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.
Protect your Jimmy, keep it fresh
anything is everything, and more is less
it's all sight, sound, smell, taste and felts
knuckle up and buckle up, your safety belt
lift with your legs, speak with your mind
see the bigger screen, read between the lines
brush your teeth, squash the beef
judge the tree by both sides of the leaf
save your soul (soul), spend your money
laugh at his jokes and pretend they're funny
talk about your goals (goals) and hide your wants
give'em something they can hold and get a better response
believe in karma, truth and honor
respect the youth and understand the drama
think about your move before you make it
and see the motive for the info and advice before you take it
Traffic lights, stop signs
cops and crimes, top of the line
I lost my mind, I found my feet
Look over my shoulder before I cross the street
dead zone, when in Rome
I'm begging for attention to be left alone
Headphones and flesh tones
and little Sluggo's having trouble trying to get home
Write a song, write a million songs
but they all the same song it's like one long song
fight the wrong and make'em sing along
and continue to consume until the hunger's gone
speak your peace and move on, move on
I need to buy time but first I gotta find the coupon
and when I climb the mountain, I'm gonna teach. I promise
but for now. you can reach me at the office
get a job, catch a bus, learn something, cook dinner
find a mate and copulate but try to pick a winner
go to school, teach something, be a voice, paint a picture
"Turn the TV off man you don't need a babysitter!"
Read a book, write a book, plot a move, take over
watch for motorcycles, calm down, be a donor
nine out of ten doctors prefer their secretaries 'cause they sick of going home and going down on what they married
do your homework, solve the problem, celebrate
tip the bartender, breath and meditate
oversleep, wake up late, push snooze, take a bath
when you finish with your drink they let you keep the glass
skip class, jump curbs, walk the dog, run slow
leap fate, stand tall, sit still, take control,
"yo, you throw like a girl and you hate the world and you lost all your nuts trying to chase a squirrel!"
but some of these cats don't know how to meow
I try to open my eyes to take a look at me now
alphabetize the records that sit on the shelf
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
hey yo they want the life but they don't want the light
they act like they don't know wrong from right
they say they want the truth, but they have the truth
they act like they forgot how to move - DEAD
I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
I said I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
I said I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
anything is everything, and more is less
it's all sight, sound, smell, taste and felts
knuckle up and buckle up, your safety belt
lift with your legs, speak with your mind
see the bigger screen, read between the lines
brush your teeth, squash the beef
judge the tree by both sides of the leaf
save your soul (soul), spend your money
laugh at his jokes and pretend they're funny
talk about your goals (goals) and hide your wants
give'em something they can hold and get a better response
believe in karma, truth and honor
respect the youth and understand the drama
think about your move before you make it
and see the motive for the info and advice before you take it
Traffic lights, stop signs
cops and crimes, top of the line
I lost my mind, I found my feet
Look over my shoulder before I cross the street
dead zone, when in Rome
I'm begging for attention to be left alone
Headphones and flesh tones
and little Sluggo's having trouble trying to get home
Write a song, write a million songs
but they all the same song it's like one long song
fight the wrong and make'em sing along
and continue to consume until the hunger's gone
speak your peace and move on, move on
I need to buy time but first I gotta find the coupon
and when I climb the mountain, I'm gonna teach. I promise
but for now. you can reach me at the office
get a job, catch a bus, learn something, cook dinner
find a mate and copulate but try to pick a winner
go to school, teach something, be a voice, paint a picture
"Turn the TV off man you don't need a babysitter!"
Read a book, write a book, plot a move, take over
watch for motorcycles, calm down, be a donor
nine out of ten doctors prefer their secretaries 'cause they sick of going home and going down on what they married
do your homework, solve the problem, celebrate
tip the bartender, breath and meditate
oversleep, wake up late, push snooze, take a bath
when you finish with your drink they let you keep the glass
skip class, jump curbs, walk the dog, run slow
leap fate, stand tall, sit still, take control,
"yo, you throw like a girl and you hate the world and you lost all your nuts trying to chase a squirrel!"
but some of these cats don't know how to meow
I try to open my eyes to take a look at me now
alphabetize the records that sit on the shelf
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
hey yo they want the life but they don't want the light
they act like they don't know wrong from right
they say they want the truth, but they have the truth
they act like they forgot how to move - DEAD
I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
I said I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
I said I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
I ain't trying to wait for no one else to help
I think you need some advice on how to think for self
Lyrics submitted by eldorrado57
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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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This is easily my favorite Atmosphere song. Amazing.