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.
To the queen of hearts is the ace of sorrow
He's here today, he's gone tomorrow
Young men are plenty but sweethearts few
If my love leaves me what shall I do?
Queens in the pocket, girl in a locket
Say "oo-blay," say "oo-blay," say "boop-doop-da"
Boys wanna knock it, other wanna rob it
Say "oo-blay, bay-doop-bay, bay-doop-doop-da"
I see when you're coming, girl, you look stunning
Running for the friends of mine
Well, it's more for the power and the hour after hour
Well, he's itching for the powder one time
Well, it's dear for the fire, hate for the liar
Living for the bass and beat
Close to the wire, no one wanna hire
Didn't want a working week
Well, the old town crier looks for a buyer
Out there finding your feet
In scenes of schemes and drug-filled friends
Will be fine for someone to meet
I own earth, wind and fire
It breeds the hunger that keeps me on the road again
It's earth, wind and fire
I don't own thunder, it's owned by a love of mine
With a beat of the drum that made your head spun
See no, hear no, speak no, son
Look like a gun held by the young
In a far gone land shooting everyone
Fee-fee, fi-fi, fo-fo, fum
Is the package in the back becoming a problem
Fee-fee, fi-fi, fo-fo, fum
Is the habit that you have still fun?
Counting on your losses, carrying crosses
Looking at your face in the dirt
Travelling buses, hiding from the rozzers
Pretending that you're an extrovert
Well, the girl you accosted and then took hostage
Escaped while you were at work
After three years, two days, paranoid drug haze
Couldn't stand to live a life of hurt
I own earth, wind and fire
It breeds the hunger that keeps me on the road again
It's earth, wind and fire
I don't own thunder, it's owned by a love of mine
With water, blood and wine
She temps me back time after time
Well, it's earth, wind and fire
I don't own thunder, it's owned by a love of mine
Sorrow, tomorrow
Ooh
I own earth, wind and fire
It breeds the hunger that keeps me on the road again
It's earth, wind and fire
I don't own thunder, it's owned by a love of mine
With water, blood and wine
She temps me back time after time
Well, it's earth, wind and fire
I don't own thunder, it's owned by a love of mine
He's here today, he's gone tomorrow
Young men are plenty but sweethearts few
If my love leaves me what shall I do?
Queens in the pocket, girl in a locket
Say "oo-blay," say "oo-blay," say "boop-doop-da"
Boys wanna knock it, other wanna rob it
Say "oo-blay, bay-doop-bay, bay-doop-doop-da"
I see when you're coming, girl, you look stunning
Running for the friends of mine
Well, it's more for the power and the hour after hour
Well, he's itching for the powder one time
Well, it's dear for the fire, hate for the liar
Living for the bass and beat
Close to the wire, no one wanna hire
Didn't want a working week
Well, the old town crier looks for a buyer
Out there finding your feet
In scenes of schemes and drug-filled friends
Will be fine for someone to meet
I own earth, wind and fire
It breeds the hunger that keeps me on the road again
It's earth, wind and fire
I don't own thunder, it's owned by a love of mine
With a beat of the drum that made your head spun
See no, hear no, speak no, son
Look like a gun held by the young
In a far gone land shooting everyone
Fee-fee, fi-fi, fo-fo, fum
Is the package in the back becoming a problem
Fee-fee, fi-fi, fo-fo, fum
Is the habit that you have still fun?
Counting on your losses, carrying crosses
Looking at your face in the dirt
Travelling buses, hiding from the rozzers
Pretending that you're an extrovert
Well, the girl you accosted and then took hostage
Escaped while you were at work
After three years, two days, paranoid drug haze
Couldn't stand to live a life of hurt
I own earth, wind and fire
It breeds the hunger that keeps me on the road again
It's earth, wind and fire
I don't own thunder, it's owned by a love of mine
With water, blood and wine
She temps me back time after time
Well, it's earth, wind and fire
I don't own thunder, it's owned by a love of mine
Sorrow, tomorrow
Ooh
I own earth, wind and fire
It breeds the hunger that keeps me on the road again
It's earth, wind and fire
I don't own thunder, it's owned by a love of mine
With water, blood and wine
She temps me back time after time
Well, it's earth, wind and fire
I don't own thunder, it's owned by a love of mine
Lyrics submitted by iwishicould-
Earth, Wind & Fire Lyrics as written by Jamie Alexander Treays Ben Coupland
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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.
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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.
Epic song. Wondering what it all means though.
I think it has quite a strong link to either being to addicted or selling drugs "itching for his powder on time" "old town crier looks for a buyer" "drug filled fiends" and there are more references throw out. I think the person he talks about is struggling with his conscience or something in his past and the drugs are a way out..