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.
Every once in the months
My sun sets fire to my feeling
I'm on the path near the lake
And it's stopping my breathing
but it's still not a surprise
It's in my chest
It's in my ribs
It's not my heart
It's my grieving
But it's not sad
It's more of a longing
That comes for the season
That I'm in
And I always wonder just where it's been
And when I die
I hope my soul doesn't go on and fly
I hope it just stays right here
Looking up into the sky
Cause I know where I'm gonna die
For a beautiful lover in the morning
And once in the evening
I see the kids in the water
Full of being
And then I will smile
And the winter months only last for a while
Looking up at the grey
But I wouldn't ever have to worry 'bout freezing
Just sit and ponder
Never have to think about reason
I'd be just somebody's memory
But how different is it
When you're just walking down the street
You're always in a placce that you're not
You're inside of your loved ones
I'm just someone's friend
I still wake up every day
And don't see an end
The stillness kills me
With a filledness that brings us to staring
Out far beyond the shore
The fire's brweing and glaring
On the mirror on the lake
And in the hold there's black, there's red,
Orange and with the blue
Never mind the breeze, never mind the miracles,
I got me and I got you
I know that this is my fate
And if I was God
This isn't even something I could create
(x3)
And when I die
I hope my soul doesn't go on and fly
I hope it just stays right here
Looking up into the sky
Cause I know where I'm gonna die
When the Lord comes down
To take me back to the sky
When the Lord comes down
To bring us back to the sky
When the Lord comes down
I'll look Him straight in the eye
I'll look Him straight in the eye
My sun sets fire to my feeling
I'm on the path near the lake
And it's stopping my breathing
but it's still not a surprise
It's in my chest
It's in my ribs
It's not my heart
It's my grieving
But it's not sad
It's more of a longing
That comes for the season
That I'm in
And I always wonder just where it's been
And when I die
I hope my soul doesn't go on and fly
I hope it just stays right here
Looking up into the sky
Cause I know where I'm gonna die
For a beautiful lover in the morning
And once in the evening
I see the kids in the water
Full of being
And then I will smile
And the winter months only last for a while
Looking up at the grey
But I wouldn't ever have to worry 'bout freezing
Just sit and ponder
Never have to think about reason
I'd be just somebody's memory
But how different is it
When you're just walking down the street
You're always in a placce that you're not
You're inside of your loved ones
I'm just someone's friend
I still wake up every day
And don't see an end
The stillness kills me
With a filledness that brings us to staring
Out far beyond the shore
The fire's brweing and glaring
On the mirror on the lake
And in the hold there's black, there's red,
Orange and with the blue
Never mind the breeze, never mind the miracles,
I got me and I got you
I know that this is my fate
And if I was God
This isn't even something I could create
(x3)
And when I die
I hope my soul doesn't go on and fly
I hope it just stays right here
Looking up into the sky
Cause I know where I'm gonna die
When the Lord comes down
To take me back to the sky
When the Lord comes down
To bring us back to the sky
When the Lord comes down
I'll look Him straight in the eye
I'll look Him straight in the eye
Lyrics submitted by smallkitten1
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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.
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/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.