The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Sail me down, gently
Out where the street begins
Let me drown, easy
Water wash away my sins
It feels like mercy, and it feeds like fame
I'm losin' my way
If I wasn't too lost would you toss me away
Without a care or word to say
Two tongues get in the way
Bring me round, quickly
Before the big one gets away
Lost and found, maybe
But the searchin' never ends
Stand tall like a mountain
Keep your feet on the ground
Stay true to the dream
A blind man says that faith will make it alright
If it's just the same I'll keep my sight
If I wasn't so lost would you leave me on my own
If it's just the same, I'll keep my soul
Out where the street begins
Let me drown, easy
Water wash away my sins
It feels like mercy, and it feeds like fame
I'm losin' my way
If I wasn't too lost would you toss me away
Without a care or word to say
Two tongues get in the way
Bring me round, quickly
Before the big one gets away
Lost and found, maybe
But the searchin' never ends
Stand tall like a mountain
Keep your feet on the ground
Stay true to the dream
A blind man says that faith will make it alright
If it's just the same I'll keep my sight
If I wasn't so lost would you leave me on my own
If it's just the same, I'll keep my soul
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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It sounds to me like it's about someone being afraid to have faith, him not being sure he has enough of it to let it do what it's supposed to do, comfort him. Of course, I just think that's what it means if the words are taken literally, I mean in a classic Southern, Biblical way, which is where Brother Cane is from, the south.