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.
If you call me and ask for his name
Or if you call for his number,
Worst part of my existence
Is you're best friends forever
but you're in bands together.
and I'm not getting better,
I just feelin' sick.
So much time went on,
and I'm just finding out about this.
And if you see me looking bad,
Or if you see me better,
Worst part of my existence
Is you can call whenever,
but I can't wait forever.
Or if you call for his number,
Worst part of my existence
Is you're best friends forever
but you're in bands together.
and I'm not getting better,
I just feelin' sick.
So much time went on,
and I'm just finding out about this.
And if you see me looking bad,
Or if you see me better,
Worst part of my existence
Is you can call whenever,
but I can't wait forever.
Lyrics submitted by pigel, edited by Saturn_Ascends_001, Martok
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
This song is about Adam from Tigers Jaw being in love with this chick and then she asks him for Leo from Captain We're Sinking's phone number and then Leo makes out with her or something and then Adam is sad. I know this because I know them well. Normally I wouldn't disclose personal information but there's a good reason why this personal information rules. Here's that reason:
On Captain We're Sinking's first record they have a song called "Mediocrity Is Nothing To Brag About" and the chorus is "I can't wait, can't wait forever" Greg from The Menzinger's brother is also in Capt, and Greg (who was in a band with Adam from TJ, Leo from Capt, and i think bobby, his brother, from Capt called Kosmos before all these bands) says he wrote this chorus as "I can't wait, can't wait for dinnnneeeerrr" and Greg liked to jokingly give them shit for it.
Then Adam from Tigers Jaw (likely) not-jokingly stole the line in this song (I Was Never Your Boyfriend) about this chick he was in love with or something.
SO, then Greg jokingly retaliated in defense of his stance that he originally wrote this line: I can't wait forever/dinner. He did so by taking the line and using it in a Menziners song called 'Rivalries' and added a part to it " i can't wait for, live forever. i can't wait for, live forever, either".
Adam then retaliated once more by using both of Greg's lines (wait forever, live forever) on the next TJ record in the song Buona Pizza (named after a Scranton pizza place which is just ok).
THEN to retaliate once more Greg changed it up and used an entire verse from Buona Pizza in Mexican Guitars on the next Menzinger's Album "On The Impossible Past". This stolen verse is a bit reworked to fit his song, but basically the same. It does NOT use the line "I can't wait forever, but is from the previous TJ song in which Adam uses that line.
Lastly (maybe, hopefully not), in the time I'm writing this the newest Captain record "The Future Is Cancelled" (which is incredible) is not currently released. However, there is a song on this record called Here's To Forever where Leo croons his very first sequel to this weird little saga. "I can't remember what I was looking for, but I did find something in myself that I despise, and I don't mind. I just remember when I'm bored. I can't remember what I swore we'd never wait forever for."
So, now I suggest you make a playlist of these songs and bask in it's glory.
Simpler put, it goes like this:
Captain We're Sinking - Mediocrity Is Nothing To Brag About "i can't wait, can't wait forever"
Tigers Jaw - I Was Never Your Boyfriend "I can't wait forever" The Menzingers - Rivalries "cause I can't wait for, live forever. no i can't wait for, live forever either" Tigers Jaw - Buona Pizza "i can't wait forever...I can't live forever" (repeated) The Menzingers - Mexican Guitars reworks but uses basically an entire verse from the previous TJ song but never uses the words "i can't wait forever" ........ ----TJ lyrics:---- I do what I can to get away from this. Everything that happened has been such a mess. In hoping I can see you more, I see you less. Everything that I've been doing is meaningless. ... Why cant they get it? I can't wait forever. Why can't they get it? I can't live forever.
---Menz lyrics:--- I did what I did to get away from this Cause everything that's happened has left me a total wreck And everything that I do now is meaningless So I'm off to wander around the world for a little bit
K. Sorry Adam, Greg, and Leo hope you're not mad. Love you, bye.