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.
The princess in her flowerbed,
Pulled the jungle underground,
Where cherry bombs stain the blackbirds red,
And explosions never make a sound.
Oh comet come down
Kamikaze over me,
And come alive
My midnight melody
Oh comet come down
My captain on the snowy horse,
He's coming back to take me home,
(He's coming back to take me home!)
He'll find me fighting back the terrible force,
'Cause I'm not afraid to die alone.
Oh comet come down!
Kamikaze over me,
And come alive!
My midnight melody!
Oh comet come down!
Kamikaze over me,
And come alive!
My midnight melody!
Oh comet come down!
Oh comet come down!
(Break down the open doors)
Maybe I'll write,
(And fight back the undertones)
To save my life,
(Break in, the ember glows)
Maybe I'll fly,
(And go where you want to go)
With the eagle eye!
(Break down the open doors)
Maybe I'll write,
(And fight back the undertones)
To save my life,
(Break in, the ember glows)
Maybe I'll fly,
(And go where you want to go)
With the eagle eye!
(Eagle eye)
Pulled the jungle underground,
Where cherry bombs stain the blackbirds red,
And explosions never make a sound.
Oh comet come down
Kamikaze over me,
And come alive
My midnight melody
Oh comet come down
My captain on the snowy horse,
He's coming back to take me home,
(He's coming back to take me home!)
He'll find me fighting back the terrible force,
'Cause I'm not afraid to die alone.
Oh comet come down!
Kamikaze over me,
And come alive!
My midnight melody!
Oh comet come down!
Kamikaze over me,
And come alive!
My midnight melody!
Oh comet come down!
Oh comet come down!
(Break down the open doors)
Maybe I'll write,
(And fight back the undertones)
To save my life,
(Break in, the ember glows)
Maybe I'll fly,
(And go where you want to go)
With the eagle eye!
(Break down the open doors)
Maybe I'll write,
(And fight back the undertones)
To save my life,
(Break in, the ember glows)
Maybe I'll fly,
(And go where you want to go)
With the eagle eye!
(Eagle eye)
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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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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/
My sister thinks this song is ugly. But I think it conveys a lot of emotion. Still, Adam's never written like this. I'm not really sure I want to see all his future songs turning out like this. I wish I knew Adam, I wish it more than anything. I wish I could talk to him, and find out what caused his dreamy wistfulness to turn to this anger. Nothing's changed much since Ocean Eyes. Why should he feel like he's always fighting?
He's fighting because there's a war waging around us. To not fight is be defeted and held down by our oppressors. We would not be able to dream under that oppression. And yes, this war is a spirtual war.
All I'm saying is Adam isn't generally an angry person. I do love this song, though. And I don't see much of a war.
None of Adam's wistfulness is gone, oceanheart. And these lyrics aren't really angry. They are more persevering than dark. I think a lot of that optimism of his that we love so much is really showing in these song lyrics....like where he says "Cause I'm not afraid to die alone" <br /> Personally I really appreciate this song because its very strong, unlike some of his other dreamy ones. Of course I love those too....but it's great to see he can create a fighting song. <br /> Ah, where would we be without Owl City!? =D <br /> <br /> P.S. You don't see much of a war? That's because it's spiritual. Open your eyes, man. It's a war between Good and Evil. Light and Dark...i think it's fairly easy to see every day if you just look for the right things.
Yes, well, I wouldn't be really anywhere with Owl City, but it's rather heartbreaking for me to listen to a song like this, where Adam thinks he's fighting in a spiritual war. He's not fighting for anything. He never mentions anything about some of the, um, stronger atheist comments on his blog, and he's far from abandoning his faith. So what is he fighting? Indulgence? "Sins"? That's just being human. I am a very metaphorical thinker. I prefer to spend a lot of my time contemplating-and thus creating opinions. The only oppression I'm seeing is human. Things that can be reversed. And you guys take it upon yourselves to criticize and be ashamed of everything that makes you human. There is no spiritual dark, only the unhappiness and tragedy we bring upon ourselves or just can't avoid.
But he is fighting a war. I certainly can't speak for all religious groups, as I don't know all of them, but many Christian denominations look at the ongoing conflict between good and evil as a war, with Christ as the captain of the forces of heaven--that's why there are hymns like "Onward Christian Soldiers" and why CS Lewis describes Christianity as "spread out through all time and space and rooted in eternity, terrible as an army with banners." This refers not to an actual battle but to the daily struggle by believers to resist temptation, practice righteousness, and build the kingdom of God in the face of adversity.<br /> <br /> You may not see much of a war or feel that there is a spiritual dark, and no one's saying you can't feel that way, but this song was written by Adam Young, and as he's a devout Christian, it's not surprising that he does feel that there's a war and that he's fighting it. And in response to the idea that he's not fighting for anything, if indeed people make strong atheist comments on his blog (I don't read it much so I wasn't aware of that), then isn't that a battle he's chosen to fight for his faith? To talk candidly about his beliefs, on his blog and in his music, even though people respond negatively to him?
Wow, I really like your comment! There is nothing I could even add to what you just wrote. This is amazing and so true!!!!
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. <br /> If I may say, war/fighting, spiritually talking, is not good for nothing. It is about bringing man's happiness and peace.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. <br /> If I may say, war/fighting, spiritually talking, is not good for nothing. It is about bringing man's happiness and peace.
Nice quotes moonshadowbird396, there is a lot of wisdom in them. However, a little something which I will not argue about, but just giving my thoughts, is that yes, there are angels and yes there demons. There is a hell and a heaven too :)
Oh, wow, lots of replies. I agree with the Buddha quotes, just in a non-religious way. And I get what emilym is saying about good and evil, but I just don't believe in that. I don't really believe there even can be such a thing as pure good and pure evil. Most of the time it just kind of...is. And the Christians vs. atheists thing, that could in fact one day blow up into a war. A human war. I certainly don't believe in hell, what all-forgiving god would banish someone there? But I do get what you guys are saying.
@oceanheart: Well, Adam does believe in "all that" about good and evil and the war between them. What you think he should be writing about really makes no difference.<br /> <br /> I'm not trying to be rude here, but this is his song, his feelings, his right to express them. <br /> <br /> And I also happen to believe he's right.
Yes, well I'm sorry for expressing my own [lack of} beliefs and my opinions. I'm not saying Adam doesn't have the right to say it, I was questioning whether the war exists.
@oceanheart13 I see that you said you don't understand why an all forgiving god would banish people to hell. Well one thing I would like to mention is that God is just which means He will do what is right. He doesn't banish people to hell for no reason. He sends people there that have chosen to reject Him their whole lives. By sending them to hell He is giving them what they asked for and He is also honoring our freedom of choice. If God forced everyone to go to heaven then He would be treating us like we have instrumental value; like we are only good for reaching a certain purpose and that we don't deserve to be appreciated just because we are us. So by having people go to hell He is honoring their choices. Everyone deserves to go to hell because we are humans and we mess up. But because Jesus took on God's wrath on the cross, He was taking on the punishment of the sins of those who ask for forgiveness. Everybody pays for their mistakes (sins) one way or another. Some people, like those who ask for forgiveness, will pay for their sins in this life. However, those who do not choose to let Jesus pay for their sins, will pay for them later in hell. It is only by God's love that we can go to heaven. Yes God is loving and forgiving, but He is also just and moral and He will do what is right. He doesn't enjoy sending people to hell, He had to create hell because mankind rebelled against him by sinning and disobeying Him. Remember when you think of the concept of hell that God doesn't enjoy its existence and that it honors people's freedom of choice.
@Souledout24<br /> So basically, you believe people should in fact be punished because of their use of freedom of choice? It doesn't make much sense to me. Maybe it does to you. I do not believe in punishment for using rights. What kind of logic is that?<br />
I'm wondering if AY's fight is not so much against others who criticize his convictions, but his own internal struggles. The spiritual battle is not necessarily one person against another or one religion against another. Oftentimes in the life of a Christian, this spiritual battle involves the evil desires of a man's heart set against the purity and wholeness that come through living like Christ. It is a daily struggle, but AY's joy, peace, and perseverance in the midst of it make his life of faith more real, in my opinion.<br /> <br /> @oceanheart13 - If you're a reader, I recommend C.S. Lewis' "The Great Divorce." In it he depicts a intriguing perspective on hell.