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.
I needed more than just a kiss goodnight
Had to go get something out my system I
ignored the warnings, bit the fruit
She might have tasted good
But man she was my kryptonite
Shoulda known she was trouble from the start
I, knew she'd broken hearts I,
thought I'd take that chance
Danced with the she devil in the pale moonlight
Alarm bells rang, but I loved the drama
In a dark place but I loved the karma sutra
Shoulda closed that door
But I kept going back for more
She's electric, she's the current running through my veins
She's a siren, hearing voices that I can't explain
Now I should be thinking it over
Instead I'm calling her over
Now she's here and she won't go quietly
I Should be thinking it over
Instead I'm calling her over
Now she's here but she won't go quietly
I needed more than just a cheap thrill ride
See I needed something that ran deep inside
Ignored the warnings, bit the fruit
She might have tasted good
But man she was my kryptonite
Shoulda known it wouldn't last for a year I,
knew it'd all end it tears I,
cracked, she was mind addictive, never felt scripted
Upredicatable, tied up, but no strings attatched
Left scratch marks on my back
Her cold eyes got me excited and I can't hide the truth
She's electric, she's the current running through my veins
(I just can't kick the habit)
(I just can't kick the habit)
She's a siren, hearing voices that I can't explain
(I just can't kick the habit)
Now I should be thinking it over
Instead I'm calling her over
Now she's here and she won't go quietly
I should be thinking it over
Instead I'm calling her over
Now she's here and she won't go quietly
Can't see the end of this or who survives
It's just another case of do or die
Can't see the end of this or who survives
It's just another case, another case, another case
another case, another case
She's electric, she's the current running through my veins
(I just can't kick the habit)
(I just can't kick the habit)
She's a siren, hearing voices that I can't explain
(I just can't kick the habit)
Now I, should be thinking it over
Instead I'm calling her over
Now she's here and she won't go quietly
I should be thinking it over
Instead I'm calling her over
Now she's here and she won't go quietly
Can't see the end of this or who survives
It's just another case of do or die
Can't see the end of this or who survives
It's just another case of do or die
Can't see the end of this or who survives
It's just another case of do or die
Had to go get something out my system I
ignored the warnings, bit the fruit
She might have tasted good
But man she was my kryptonite
Shoulda known she was trouble from the start
I, knew she'd broken hearts I,
thought I'd take that chance
Danced with the she devil in the pale moonlight
Alarm bells rang, but I loved the drama
In a dark place but I loved the karma sutra
Shoulda closed that door
But I kept going back for more
She's electric, she's the current running through my veins
She's a siren, hearing voices that I can't explain
Now I should be thinking it over
Instead I'm calling her over
Now she's here and she won't go quietly
I Should be thinking it over
Instead I'm calling her over
Now she's here but she won't go quietly
I needed more than just a cheap thrill ride
See I needed something that ran deep inside
Ignored the warnings, bit the fruit
She might have tasted good
But man she was my kryptonite
Shoulda known it wouldn't last for a year I,
knew it'd all end it tears I,
cracked, she was mind addictive, never felt scripted
Upredicatable, tied up, but no strings attatched
Left scratch marks on my back
Her cold eyes got me excited and I can't hide the truth
She's electric, she's the current running through my veins
(I just can't kick the habit)
(I just can't kick the habit)
She's a siren, hearing voices that I can't explain
(I just can't kick the habit)
Now I should be thinking it over
Instead I'm calling her over
Now she's here and she won't go quietly
I should be thinking it over
Instead I'm calling her over
Now she's here and she won't go quietly
Can't see the end of this or who survives
It's just another case of do or die
Can't see the end of this or who survives
It's just another case, another case, another case
another case, another case
She's electric, she's the current running through my veins
(I just can't kick the habit)
(I just can't kick the habit)
She's a siren, hearing voices that I can't explain
(I just can't kick the habit)
Now I, should be thinking it over
Instead I'm calling her over
Now she's here and she won't go quietly
I should be thinking it over
Instead I'm calling her over
Now she's here and she won't go quietly
Can't see the end of this or who survives
It's just another case of do or die
Can't see the end of this or who survives
It's just another case of do or die
Can't see the end of this or who survives
It's just another case of do or die
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
Been following this guy for years and I'm really liking the new direction he's taken. He really kills it on this one!