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.
[Grand Puba]
Yeah, Missy Elliott, Grand Puba
[Missy Elliott]
Y'all don't really know who I am, God damn
I'm like grease in the frying pan cause I am
Bacon, eggs, toast, butter
Smooth sexy lover more FRESH than others
Go ask your brother if y'all don't believe
I control the industry cause Missy in the lead
I'm talking to you man
With my upper hand, the fans call me Dapper Dan
When I was young my pops, throw rocks
Always shit talk to my moms and call the cops
Couldn't wait 'til I was nice and grown
Sick of daddy mouth 'til six in the morn'
On and on and on 'til the record scratch
And if I made a few scraps I would never come back (Yes!)
Take moms with me and a few ADAT's
And make a song about dad and tell pops he's a rat (Yes!)
OK
Hold up
[Chorus: x2 Missy Elliott]
Y'all don't really know my life
Y'all don't really know my struggles and how much liquor I guzzle (Yes!)
Y'all don't really know my fears
And how many years to get here but I'm ready to rumble
[Grand Puba]
Yeah, I be that throwback cat, I throwback 'gnac
I spit hot raps, then I check my traps
Pockets stop the bulk, green up like the Hulk
Ram up in something like that nigga Marshall Faulk
I'm a low key nigga, a O.G. nigga
Entertain my guests in "The Basement" like Tigger
Grand Puba and the name ring bells
And if it ain't about paper I don't waste my sells
So the new school new school need to learn yo
I burn baby burn like a Hunt's Pointe ho
[Missy Elliott]
Yo yo Puba, hold up
Let's take 'em back on some "411" shit
Mary!
[Mary J. Blige]
I'm Mary J. Blige, for a fact I don't rap
I'm known around the map to always make a comeback
I went through some struggles fightin with my ex-lovers
Stayed in lots of trouble, blessings then I had recovered
Had to pay them bills, the places I lived
Messin with them cats that's said to get I had to give
I had to tell them back up cause I was quick to smack 'em up
I didn't give a WHAT, Mary J. would act up
[Chorus: Missy & (Mary)]
Y'all don't really know my struggles
(I had two or three jobs I had to juggle)
And all them liquor shots from the pain I covered
(Struggling from the break-ups with my lover)
(Y'all don't know the half) Don't know the half
(I'm better off now that was in the past)
I had to take the good stuff with the bad
Now I'm (thankful for the little things that I have)
I'm Mary J. Blige, for a fact I don't rap
Grand Puba, and the name ring bells
I'm Mary J. Blige, for a fact I don't rap
Grand Puba, and the name ring bells
Yeah, Missy Elliott, Grand Puba
[Missy Elliott]
Y'all don't really know who I am, God damn
I'm like grease in the frying pan cause I am
Bacon, eggs, toast, butter
Smooth sexy lover more FRESH than others
Go ask your brother if y'all don't believe
I control the industry cause Missy in the lead
I'm talking to you man
With my upper hand, the fans call me Dapper Dan
When I was young my pops, throw rocks
Always shit talk to my moms and call the cops
Couldn't wait 'til I was nice and grown
Sick of daddy mouth 'til six in the morn'
On and on and on 'til the record scratch
And if I made a few scraps I would never come back (Yes!)
Take moms with me and a few ADAT's
And make a song about dad and tell pops he's a rat (Yes!)
OK
Hold up
[Chorus: x2 Missy Elliott]
Y'all don't really know my life
Y'all don't really know my struggles and how much liquor I guzzle (Yes!)
Y'all don't really know my fears
And how many years to get here but I'm ready to rumble
[Grand Puba]
Yeah, I be that throwback cat, I throwback 'gnac
I spit hot raps, then I check my traps
Pockets stop the bulk, green up like the Hulk
Ram up in something like that nigga Marshall Faulk
I'm a low key nigga, a O.G. nigga
Entertain my guests in "The Basement" like Tigger
Grand Puba and the name ring bells
And if it ain't about paper I don't waste my sells
So the new school new school need to learn yo
I burn baby burn like a Hunt's Pointe ho
[Missy Elliott]
Yo yo Puba, hold up
Let's take 'em back on some "411" shit
Mary!
[Mary J. Blige]
I'm Mary J. Blige, for a fact I don't rap
I'm known around the map to always make a comeback
I went through some struggles fightin with my ex-lovers
Stayed in lots of trouble, blessings then I had recovered
Had to pay them bills, the places I lived
Messin with them cats that's said to get I had to give
I had to tell them back up cause I was quick to smack 'em up
I didn't give a WHAT, Mary J. would act up
[Chorus: Missy & (Mary)]
Y'all don't really know my struggles
(I had two or three jobs I had to juggle)
And all them liquor shots from the pain I covered
(Struggling from the break-ups with my lover)
(Y'all don't know the half) Don't know the half
(I'm better off now that was in the past)
I had to take the good stuff with the bad
Now I'm (thankful for the little things that I have)
I'm Mary J. Blige, for a fact I don't rap
Grand Puba, and the name ring bells
I'm Mary J. Blige, for a fact I don't rap
Grand Puba, and the name ring bells
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Light Up The Sky
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Mountain Song
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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."
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
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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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/