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.
Lay me down in a hearseback, it's where my new best look is at.
If I slit a purse or two then I can't curse if my cake is cooked and minor veins are mapped.
These tits not filled with milk, these cold bones wrapped in hunger
Like a bundle of sticks in a fire so slow it leaves them unburned, black and yearning.
Will this new year's see my rotting hair's release?
Will my new black book pull the sick from my deepest creases?
-A gift from The Maccabees to mom to me,
No more flier backs or receipts, using magazines for tables.
A girl's down bed and corresponding naked wings unable
When I felt my ribs come closing slow, a row of snakes set to strangle
I am survived
Lay me down in a hearseback, it's where my new best look is at.
If I slit a purse or two then I can't curse if my cake is cooked and minor veins are mapped
But you might find me in the white pages yet, my name is next to numbers
Like someone's father's father: left listed in the book of numbers,
Like someone's father's father: left listed in the book of numbers.
If I slit a purse or two then I can't curse if my cake is cooked and minor veins are mapped.
These tits not filled with milk, these cold bones wrapped in hunger
Like a bundle of sticks in a fire so slow it leaves them unburned, black and yearning.
Will this new year's see my rotting hair's release?
Will my new black book pull the sick from my deepest creases?
-A gift from The Maccabees to mom to me,
No more flier backs or receipts, using magazines for tables.
A girl's down bed and corresponding naked wings unable
When I felt my ribs come closing slow, a row of snakes set to strangle
I am survived
Lay me down in a hearseback, it's where my new best look is at.
If I slit a purse or two then I can't curse if my cake is cooked and minor veins are mapped
But you might find me in the white pages yet, my name is next to numbers
Like someone's father's father: left listed in the book of numbers,
Like someone's father's father: left listed in the book of numbers.
Lyrics submitted by plbats
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what's the "slit a purse" action all about?
I think it's a reference to self-harm and suicidal tendencies. I think he's trying to rationalise his fear of death here - if he's tried and/or wanted to kill or hurt himself in the past, he's telling himself that he shouldn't be afraid of death coming to him. He muses on mortality a lot on this new record.
I think it's talking about sinning. What's done is done, he slit some purses and stole and his path is set (inner vains are mapped/cake is cooked). He just needs to accept what's coming to him.
It's a reference to sex. Think about it.
To elaborate, he's saying if he's fucked a few girls, he can't bitch about dying. He also uses body mapping in reference to death in By Torpedo Or Crohns ("will they map my skull and wrap my bones when my wig is gone, hmmm?").
Now I'm starting to think the slit purse is just referring to making money.