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.
Hey! You seem to know everything on everything
But your lack of knowledge makes you a fucking upstart
Damn, you are so close minded, a stupid redneck kid,
The ideas you convey are nothing but clichés,
Intolerance and ignorance are leading your sad existence.
Let's try to live in peace together
It would make things much easier
Always learn and become clever
Knowledge's in books, not blockbusters
Give to the others a little of your time
And share with them, it'd be just fine
Let's make our world a better place to die
Open up and swallow your pride
Why are you afraid of everything that seems just different?
What are your reasons for feeling superior above the disabled?
Didn't your mama teach you how to show some respect?
Nothing is worse than your constand disdain.
Discrimination among the population
Fuck able-bodied pride
Based on handicap, health reasons and eugenism
Just open up your mind
Discrimination among the population
Fuck able-bodied pride
Based on handicap, health reasons and eugenism
Why are you afraid of everything that seems just different?
What are your reasons for feeling superior above the disabled?
Didn't your mama teach you how to show some respect?
Nothing is worse than your constand disdain.
I'd like to dedicate this one to the deaf, the dumb and the blind
Forgotten in our society, the ones that the life punished cruelly
People should be more altruistic, humanistic less individualistic
We need to harmonize, to act rather than to promise
I wish a world accessible to all, France is late, so hear this call
Stop all kinds of discrimination and restore real communication
People can change this world, spread the word, we can afford (it)
Try to live in a wheelchair and understand how life can be unfair
When all eyes are on just on you.
One day this person may be you.
But your lack of knowledge makes you a fucking upstart
Damn, you are so close minded, a stupid redneck kid,
The ideas you convey are nothing but clichés,
Intolerance and ignorance are leading your sad existence.
Let's try to live in peace together
It would make things much easier
Always learn and become clever
Knowledge's in books, not blockbusters
Give to the others a little of your time
And share with them, it'd be just fine
Let's make our world a better place to die
Open up and swallow your pride
Why are you afraid of everything that seems just different?
What are your reasons for feeling superior above the disabled?
Didn't your mama teach you how to show some respect?
Nothing is worse than your constand disdain.
Discrimination among the population
Fuck able-bodied pride
Based on handicap, health reasons and eugenism
Just open up your mind
Discrimination among the population
Fuck able-bodied pride
Based on handicap, health reasons and eugenism
Why are you afraid of everything that seems just different?
What are your reasons for feeling superior above the disabled?
Didn't your mama teach you how to show some respect?
Nothing is worse than your constand disdain.
I'd like to dedicate this one to the deaf, the dumb and the blind
Forgotten in our society, the ones that the life punished cruelly
People should be more altruistic, humanistic less individualistic
We need to harmonize, to act rather than to promise
I wish a world accessible to all, France is late, so hear this call
Stop all kinds of discrimination and restore real communication
People can change this world, spread the word, we can afford (it)
Try to live in a wheelchair and understand how life can be unfair
When all eyes are on just on you.
One day this person may be you.
Lyrics submitted by visualsuicide
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
No Surprises
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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.