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.
My pilot light has flickered out
You've knocked me off the hook
The person you are trying to reach
Is no longer here
I'm not really tall, dark and handsome
I just look that way
I'm a canvas that bleeds
And I'm painted with fingers
Childish pictures of you that still linger
Bury you're wasted into the moon
Hoping that it sinks to the earth soon
Bury you're wasted into the moon
I hope that it sinks into the earth soon
My pilot light has flickered out
You've knocked me off the hook
The person you are trying to
Reach is no longer here
I'm a canvas that bleeds
And I'm painted with fingers
Childish pictures of you that still linger
I am a VCR a funeral of dead memory waste
I'm a VCR a funeral of dead memory waste
You can see it on my face i'm a VCR funeral
Of dead memory waste
You can see it on my face
My smile is a chain link fence
I dare not frown for fear of what comes out
My smile is a chain link fence
And I dare not frown for
Fear of what comes out
Sing a song, kitty sing it
Sing it, kitty sing it
Some people don't think that Lily
Is smart enough to understand
What I'm thinking
But I know if she could she would kill
Everybody that I hate, 'cause she loves me
'Cause I took care of her since
She was a little baby
I am a VCR funeral of dead memory waste
You can see it in my face
As drink crawls down the esophagus staircase
Into my bowels of Hell
Naked like clown faces all smeared clean
Naked like clown faces all smeared
Clean in the spotlight
Naked like clown faces all smeared
Clean in the spotlight
I'm a VCR funeral of dead memory waste
You can see it on my face dead memory waste
Kill me, kill everyone
You can let them all die
The only thing in this world that
Does not die is money
You can kill me, you can kill them
You can let everyone die
The only thing in this world that
Does not die is money
You can kill me, you can kill them
You can let everyone die
The only thing that is immortal
In this world is money
You can kill me, you can kill them
You can let everything die
The only thing immortal in
This world is money
The only thing immoral in this world is money
The only thing oral in this world is money
The only thing in this is money
The only thing is ney the
Me the
The only thing immortal in
This world is money
The person you are trying to
Reach is no longer here
You have knocked me off the hook
The person you are trying to
Reach is no longer here
You have knocked me off the hook
You are afraid that you are no equal
While you are spending my money
You are afraid you are no equal
While you are spending my money
You can kill me, you can kill them
You can let everyone die
The only thing immortal in
This world is money
Why would I want to be equal with anyone?
You think you're not equal while
You're spending my money
Why would I want to be equal with anyone?
Why would I want to be equal with anyone?
To be equal you have to add or subtract
And I have never liked math
To be equal you have to add or subtract
And I have never liked math
You are recognizable
As just another part in a vast machine
You are recognizable
As just another part in a vast machine
The only thing immortal in
This world is money
The only thing original in this world
Is the way we destroy things
Everything has already been created
So we can only deal with
New ways of destroying them
Everything has already been created
So we can only think of
New ways of destroying them
Stop rehearsing alcohol and
Start performing narcotics
Stop rehearsing alcohol and
Start performing narcotics
Stop rehearsing alcohol and
Start performing narcotics
Do you think that animals believe in God?
Do you think that animals believe in God?
Do you think that animals believe in God?
To be equal you must add or subtract
People who want to be equal have lives
That are filled with
Subtractions and auditions
To be equal you must add or subtract
People who want to be equal's lives'
Are filled with subtractions and auditions
We will call you back and tell you
Don't call us, we'll call you
Don't call us, we'll call you
Do animals believe in God?
Do animals believe in God?
Do animals believe in God?
Do animals believe in God?
Stop rehearsing alcohol and
Start performing narcotics
This is a Caucasian occasion
This is a Caucasian occasion
Could someone please autograph
The frontal lobe?
Could someone please autograph
The frontal lobe?
The insurance will not cover this
Could someone please autograph
The frontal lobe?
The insurance will not cover this
Can someone please autograph the frontal lobe
The insurance will not cover this
And the young are too senile
The young are too senile
The young are too senile
The young are too senile
The young are too senile
The young are too senile
The young are too senile
The young are too senile
The young are too senile the young Sieg Heil
The young Sieg Heil young are too senile
The young Sieg Heil
Do animals believe in God?
Do animals believe in God?
Do animals believe in God?
I'm a kickstand in your mouth
I am a kickstand in your mouth
I am a kickstand in your mouth
I am a kickstand in your mouth
The insurance won't cover this
The insurance won't cover this
You can run as fast as you want
But you can never outrun the cliché
You can run as fast as you want
But you can never outrun the cliché
You can run as fast as you want
But you can never outrun the cliché
The young are senile the young are senile
Have I outgrown my spotlight?
Have I outgrown my spotlight?
Have I outgrown my spotlight?
My pupils are not students
They dilate but they never learn
My pupils are not students
They dilate but they never learn
My pupils are not students
They dilate but they never learn
My pupils are not students
They dilate but they never learn
Each time we roll up the dollar bill
We suffocate the President
Each time we roll up a dollar bill
We suffocate the President
Each time we roll up the dollar bill
We are suffocating the President
Each time we roll up the dollar bill
We suffocate the President
Just say now would you suck America's tit's?
I want you to just say now
Would you suck America's tit's?
I want you to just say now
Would you suck America's tit's?
I want you to just say now
Would you suck America's tit's?
I want downloadable suicide
I want downloadable suicide
I want downloadable suicide
I want downloadable suicide
I want downloadable suicide
I want everything when I want it
And I want it now
I want everything when I want it
And I want it now
I want everything before I want
It and I already
Wanted it so I don't want it anymore
I want everything when I want it
And I want it now
I want everything before I want it
So I don't want it anymore
I want downloadable suicide
I want a newer version
I want downloadable suicide
I want a newer version
I want downloadable suicide
Version I don't know
Version I don't point know
Version I don't point no
Version I point the gun at me oh
Oh version I don't know
Version I point the gun at me point
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I want downloadable suicide
If I sneeze will anyone bless me?
If I sneeze will anyone bless me?
If I sneeze will anyone bless me?
Stop rehearsing alcohol and
Start performing narcotics
I keep watering a dead flower
Keep watering a dead flower
Keep watering the dead flower
Keep watering a dead flower
Keep watering a dead flower
Keep watering a dead flower
Keep watering a dead flower
Keep watering a dead flower
Everything I make is a piece of plant
And some day it could have been a flower
And the things that are flowers are dead
Till I keep watering a dead flower
Keep watering a dead flower
There's not enough of me to make a bouquet
There's not enough of me to make a bouquet
Stop watering the dead flower
Stop watering a dead flower
Stop watering a dead flower
I have no balance i am like snow
And I melt away i have no balance
I am like snow and I melt away
I have no balance i am like snow
And I melt away
As you are listening i want you to know
That you are nothing
But a screen that I will project
My images of sorrow, pain and sex upon
Although there is no difference
Between the three as you are listening
I want you to know that you are nothing
But a screen that I will project
My images of sorrow, pain and sex upon
Although there is no difference
Between the three as you are listening
I want you to know
That you are only a screen
That I project my images of sorrow
Pain and suffering and sex upon
Although there is no difference between
The three and the one as you are listening
I want you to know
That you are nothing but a screen
That I project my images
Of suffering, sorrow, pain, sex
And the brief glimmer of happiness
I find in the misery
Of those who are sitting in the
Theatre of which this screen exists
I want you to know as you are listening
That you are nothing but a screen
That I project my images
Of sorrow, pain, suffering, sex
And the brief glimpse of happiness
I get from the misery
Of those who sit in the theatre that this
Screen exists will feel while they listen
The brief glimpse of happiness that I feel as
Those who sit in the theatre that this
Screen exists will feel as they listen
This isn't about music
This is about the difference
Between you and me this isn't about music
This is about the difference
Between you and me this isn't about music
This is about the difference
Between you and me this isn't about music
This is about the difference
Between you and me this isn't about music
This is about the difference
Between you and me
I am a birthday cake that
We light up, blow out, cut apart and forget
I am a birthday cake that
You light up, blow out, cut apart and forget
I am a birthday cake that you
Light up, blow out, cut apart
Devour and forget
I am a birthday cake that you
Light up, blow out, cut apart
Devour and forget
And I'm just like a holiday because I
Make everyone in the family cry
And I'm just like a holiday because I
Make everyone in the family cry
And I'm just like a holiday because I
Make everyone in the family cry
Love your enemy because love is the enemy
Love your enemy because love is the enemy
Love your enemy because love is the enemy
Love your enemy because love is the enemy
Your sell by date has expired
Your sell by date has expired
Your sell by date has expired
Your sell by date has expired
Our commercial should be faster because
We are all just slowguns
Waiting to have our triggers pulled
The commercials need to be faster because
We are all just slowguns
Waiting to have our triggers pulled
The commercials should be faster because
We are just slowguns
Waiting to have our triggers pulled
The commercials should be faster because
We are just slowguns
Waiting to have our triggers pulled
The commercials should be faster because
We are just slowguns
Waiting to have our triggers pulled
The commercials should be faster because
We are just slowguns
Waiting to have our triggers pulled
The commercials should be faster because
We are just slowguns
Waiting to have our triggers pulled
Don't bother trying to save the brainforest
Don't bother trying to save the brainforest
Don't bother trying to save the brainforest
My pain is not ashamed to repeat it'self
My pain is not ashamed to repeat it'self
My pain is not ashamed to repeat it'self
My pain is not ashamed to repeat it'self
My pain is not ashamed to repeat it'self
The aspiration to save the world is
A morbid phenomenon of today's youth
The aspiration to save the world is
A morbid phenomenon of today's youth
The aspiration to save the world is
A morbid phenomenon of today's youth
It's time someone believes what I say
I've become a lie
Each time someone believes what I say
I become a lie
Each time someone believes what I say
I become a lie
Each time someone believes what I say
I become a lie
We have reached the end of history
The only thing left is cosmetic changes
We have reached the end of history
The only thing that's left
Is cosmetic changes
You've knocked me off the hook
The person you are trying to reach
Is no longer here
I'm not really tall, dark and handsome
I just look that way
I'm a canvas that bleeds
And I'm painted with fingers
Childish pictures of you that still linger
Bury you're wasted into the moon
Hoping that it sinks to the earth soon
Bury you're wasted into the moon
I hope that it sinks into the earth soon
My pilot light has flickered out
You've knocked me off the hook
The person you are trying to
Reach is no longer here
I'm a canvas that bleeds
And I'm painted with fingers
Childish pictures of you that still linger
I am a VCR a funeral of dead memory waste
I'm a VCR a funeral of dead memory waste
You can see it on my face i'm a VCR funeral
Of dead memory waste
You can see it on my face
My smile is a chain link fence
I dare not frown for fear of what comes out
My smile is a chain link fence
And I dare not frown for
Fear of what comes out
Sing a song, kitty sing it
Sing it, kitty sing it
Some people don't think that Lily
Is smart enough to understand
What I'm thinking
But I know if she could she would kill
Everybody that I hate, 'cause she loves me
'Cause I took care of her since
She was a little baby
I am a VCR funeral of dead memory waste
You can see it in my face
As drink crawls down the esophagus staircase
Into my bowels of Hell
Naked like clown faces all smeared clean
Naked like clown faces all smeared
Clean in the spotlight
Naked like clown faces all smeared
Clean in the spotlight
I'm a VCR funeral of dead memory waste
You can see it on my face dead memory waste
Kill me, kill everyone
You can let them all die
The only thing in this world that
Does not die is money
You can kill me, you can kill them
You can let everyone die
The only thing in this world that
Does not die is money
You can kill me, you can kill them
You can let everyone die
The only thing that is immortal
In this world is money
You can kill me, you can kill them
You can let everything die
The only thing immortal in
This world is money
The only thing immoral in this world is money
The only thing oral in this world is money
The only thing in this is money
The only thing is ney the
Me the
The only thing immortal in
This world is money
The person you are trying to
Reach is no longer here
You have knocked me off the hook
The person you are trying to
Reach is no longer here
You have knocked me off the hook
You are afraid that you are no equal
While you are spending my money
You are afraid you are no equal
While you are spending my money
You can kill me, you can kill them
You can let everyone die
The only thing immortal in
This world is money
Why would I want to be equal with anyone?
You think you're not equal while
You're spending my money
Why would I want to be equal with anyone?
Why would I want to be equal with anyone?
To be equal you have to add or subtract
And I have never liked math
To be equal you have to add or subtract
And I have never liked math
You are recognizable
As just another part in a vast machine
You are recognizable
As just another part in a vast machine
The only thing immortal in
This world is money
The only thing original in this world
Is the way we destroy things
Everything has already been created
So we can only deal with
New ways of destroying them
Everything has already been created
So we can only think of
New ways of destroying them
Stop rehearsing alcohol and
Start performing narcotics
Stop rehearsing alcohol and
Start performing narcotics
Stop rehearsing alcohol and
Start performing narcotics
Do you think that animals believe in God?
Do you think that animals believe in God?
Do you think that animals believe in God?
To be equal you must add or subtract
People who want to be equal have lives
That are filled with
Subtractions and auditions
To be equal you must add or subtract
People who want to be equal's lives'
Are filled with subtractions and auditions
We will call you back and tell you
Don't call us, we'll call you
Don't call us, we'll call you
Do animals believe in God?
Do animals believe in God?
Do animals believe in God?
Do animals believe in God?
Stop rehearsing alcohol and
Start performing narcotics
This is a Caucasian occasion
This is a Caucasian occasion
Could someone please autograph
The frontal lobe?
Could someone please autograph
The frontal lobe?
The insurance will not cover this
Could someone please autograph
The frontal lobe?
The insurance will not cover this
Can someone please autograph the frontal lobe
The insurance will not cover this
And the young are too senile
The young are too senile
The young are too senile
The young are too senile
The young are too senile
The young are too senile
The young are too senile
The young are too senile
The young are too senile the young Sieg Heil
The young Sieg Heil young are too senile
The young Sieg Heil
Do animals believe in God?
Do animals believe in God?
Do animals believe in God?
I'm a kickstand in your mouth
I am a kickstand in your mouth
I am a kickstand in your mouth
I am a kickstand in your mouth
The insurance won't cover this
The insurance won't cover this
You can run as fast as you want
But you can never outrun the cliché
You can run as fast as you want
But you can never outrun the cliché
You can run as fast as you want
But you can never outrun the cliché
The young are senile the young are senile
Have I outgrown my spotlight?
Have I outgrown my spotlight?
Have I outgrown my spotlight?
My pupils are not students
They dilate but they never learn
My pupils are not students
They dilate but they never learn
My pupils are not students
They dilate but they never learn
My pupils are not students
They dilate but they never learn
Each time we roll up the dollar bill
We suffocate the President
Each time we roll up a dollar bill
We suffocate the President
Each time we roll up the dollar bill
We are suffocating the President
Each time we roll up the dollar bill
We suffocate the President
Just say now would you suck America's tit's?
I want you to just say now
Would you suck America's tit's?
I want you to just say now
Would you suck America's tit's?
I want you to just say now
Would you suck America's tit's?
I want downloadable suicide
I want downloadable suicide
I want downloadable suicide
I want downloadable suicide
I want downloadable suicide
I want everything when I want it
And I want it now
I want everything when I want it
And I want it now
I want everything before I want
It and I already
Wanted it so I don't want it anymore
I want everything when I want it
And I want it now
I want everything before I want it
So I don't want it anymore
I want downloadable suicide
I want a newer version
I want downloadable suicide
I want a newer version
I want downloadable suicide
Version I don't know
Version I don't point know
Version I don't point no
Version I point the gun at me oh
Oh version I don't know
Version I point the gun at me point
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I want downloadable suicide
If I sneeze will anyone bless me?
If I sneeze will anyone bless me?
If I sneeze will anyone bless me?
Stop rehearsing alcohol and
Start performing narcotics
I keep watering a dead flower
Keep watering a dead flower
Keep watering the dead flower
Keep watering a dead flower
Keep watering a dead flower
Keep watering a dead flower
Keep watering a dead flower
Keep watering a dead flower
Everything I make is a piece of plant
And some day it could have been a flower
And the things that are flowers are dead
Till I keep watering a dead flower
Keep watering a dead flower
There's not enough of me to make a bouquet
There's not enough of me to make a bouquet
Stop watering the dead flower
Stop watering a dead flower
Stop watering a dead flower
I have no balance i am like snow
And I melt away i have no balance
I am like snow and I melt away
I have no balance i am like snow
And I melt away
As you are listening i want you to know
That you are nothing
But a screen that I will project
My images of sorrow, pain and sex upon
Although there is no difference
Between the three as you are listening
I want you to know that you are nothing
But a screen that I will project
My images of sorrow, pain and sex upon
Although there is no difference
Between the three as you are listening
I want you to know
That you are only a screen
That I project my images of sorrow
Pain and suffering and sex upon
Although there is no difference between
The three and the one as you are listening
I want you to know
That you are nothing but a screen
That I project my images
Of suffering, sorrow, pain, sex
And the brief glimmer of happiness
I find in the misery
Of those who are sitting in the
Theatre of which this screen exists
I want you to know as you are listening
That you are nothing but a screen
That I project my images
Of sorrow, pain, suffering, sex
And the brief glimpse of happiness
I get from the misery
Of those who sit in the theatre that this
Screen exists will feel while they listen
The brief glimpse of happiness that I feel as
Those who sit in the theatre that this
Screen exists will feel as they listen
This isn't about music
This is about the difference
Between you and me this isn't about music
This is about the difference
Between you and me this isn't about music
This is about the difference
Between you and me this isn't about music
This is about the difference
Between you and me this isn't about music
This is about the difference
Between you and me
I am a birthday cake that
We light up, blow out, cut apart and forget
I am a birthday cake that
You light up, blow out, cut apart and forget
I am a birthday cake that you
Light up, blow out, cut apart
Devour and forget
I am a birthday cake that you
Light up, blow out, cut apart
Devour and forget
And I'm just like a holiday because I
Make everyone in the family cry
And I'm just like a holiday because I
Make everyone in the family cry
And I'm just like a holiday because I
Make everyone in the family cry
Love your enemy because love is the enemy
Love your enemy because love is the enemy
Love your enemy because love is the enemy
Love your enemy because love is the enemy
Your sell by date has expired
Your sell by date has expired
Your sell by date has expired
Your sell by date has expired
Our commercial should be faster because
We are all just slowguns
Waiting to have our triggers pulled
The commercials need to be faster because
We are all just slowguns
Waiting to have our triggers pulled
The commercials should be faster because
We are just slowguns
Waiting to have our triggers pulled
The commercials should be faster because
We are just slowguns
Waiting to have our triggers pulled
The commercials should be faster because
We are just slowguns
Waiting to have our triggers pulled
The commercials should be faster because
We are just slowguns
Waiting to have our triggers pulled
The commercials should be faster because
We are just slowguns
Waiting to have our triggers pulled
Don't bother trying to save the brainforest
Don't bother trying to save the brainforest
Don't bother trying to save the brainforest
My pain is not ashamed to repeat it'self
My pain is not ashamed to repeat it'self
My pain is not ashamed to repeat it'self
My pain is not ashamed to repeat it'self
My pain is not ashamed to repeat it'self
The aspiration to save the world is
A morbid phenomenon of today's youth
The aspiration to save the world is
A morbid phenomenon of today's youth
The aspiration to save the world is
A morbid phenomenon of today's youth
It's time someone believes what I say
I've become a lie
Each time someone believes what I say
I become a lie
Each time someone believes what I say
I become a lie
Each time someone believes what I say
I become a lie
We have reached the end of history
The only thing left is cosmetic changes
We have reached the end of history
The only thing that's left
Is cosmetic changes
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This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Gentle Hour
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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,
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I'd like to point out the following connections:
are you fucking kidding me? no comments?
Some of this ended up being lyrics in their songs later on, all the way through The High End of Low. My guess is that these were some of Marilyn Manson's creative thoughts and processes as he would sit and ponder about the world.
Slutgarden
A song about his desire for Dita Von Teese, as back then--as he says now--he confused desire with weakness:
"I'm a VCR funeral of dead-memory waste and my smile is a chainlink fence that I have put up"
Vodevil
A song about his life in the media, eaten up by the counter-culture and hated on by the pop culture:
"VIP ADD TRD violent shiny hate crime 'Total Requested Dead' it's version point (less) downloadable suicide."
Devour
A song about his confusion in love and desire, a coming off EAT ME, DRINK ME:
"My pain is not ashamed to repeat itself."
...and I think that's about it. Huh. Coulda swore there was more.
I don't think these words were intended to be his last because I can't see him doing that, really... suicide. I actually don't think he ever intended to kill himself, even if he had ever thought of it.
This is about self torture through means of artistic expression This is about self torture through means of drastic expression
This is about sheep not hearing the meaning This is about sheep not seeing the meaning
This is about the absurdity of relevance we think all of our thoughts have others This is about the absurdity of co-dependance we think all of our thoughts have others
This is about sex through the eyes of darkness This is about text through the eyes of a liar
This is about everything we know eventually becoming a lie This is about everything we think we know eventually becoming a lie