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.
Know what good you've done
Seems like I'm just done
No one can be harmed
All sides at once
Everyday something strange
I can't explain, happens to me
Often I am called by name
To clean up aisle 13
No one knows 'cause no one wants to
No one they might find
No one sees 'cause no one wants
To see what's in their mind
Don't be all so all afraid
Everyone has weird dreams
One day I'll come home to find you
Covered with ants 'cause you're so sweet.
Seems like I'm just done
No one can be harmed
All sides at once
Everyday something strange
I can't explain, happens to me
Often I am called by name
To clean up aisle 13
No one knows 'cause no one wants to
No one they might find
No one sees 'cause no one wants
To see what's in their mind
Don't be all so all afraid
Everyone has weird dreams
One day I'll come home to find you
Covered with ants 'cause you're so sweet.
Lyrics submitted by stealthissound, edited by Haydenkjb
Aisle 13 Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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I love this song.
The chorus is: no one knows cuz no one wants to know what they might find no one sees cuz no one wants to see whats in their mind....
People will do anything to deny the truth if it doesn't coincide with their own beliefs and or truths. I can't even put into words what this song means to me. Incredible job doug the new cd does not dissapoint just please dont make it your last =( no one does it like Built to Spill.
You are so right. There is no band like Built to Spill.
Also, don't you think that the message in this song is similar to the message doug is sending in the song "Goin'Against Your Mind" off of You in Reverse?
when my father first bought this new album he sent me a text message with the lyrics "dont be all so all afraid everyone has weird dreams some day i'll come home to find you covered in ants because you're so sweet" telling me that that part reminds him of me which is not only sweet but now every time i listen i think of him its a great album its depressing but its wonderfully depressing
I've been listening to Built to Spill since they were new, I remember and still listen to The Tree People, and this is by far the best song my boy Doug has written. This song is about the dark corners of our minds, where we stuff away the bad memories, all those hurtful things in life we'd rather not face, the skeletons in our closet. He equates the mind to a library, the reference section, an aisle. The number 13 signifies the missing 13th floor in high rise buildings and hotels, the floor we'd rather not think about, the one we pretend doesn't exist. We all know the 14th floor is a misnomer, but, as long as we're not going to the 13th floor, all is good in our world.
This is a janitorial metaphor for the often distasteful, but necessary challenges we must all face in life. Perhaps a bodhisattva warrior. Just pick up a mop and get to work!