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.
This ships set sail
Sail on you and me
This ships set sail
I just wanted to be free
So maybe we will fail
Fail to not see
Maybe we will fail
But at least we will be free
You stand so holy
Nah don't sit down
Join the feet all marching
Across the ground
This place so lonely
But nah don't settle down
Just hear the beat drown over
All this lonesome sound
It's a sad song that makes a man put
Money before life
A sad song that puts a man for sale
A sad song that make a man put
Money before life
How many asses are you gonna have to sell
We were born as animals
We were born as animals and we bros
But you put suits on animals
You try to put suits on animals but we bros
We bros you lost man
We bros so long
Put away your guns man
And sing this song
And I said the mountain wont go falling
If your still willing to climb
But when the mountain goes falling
True riches you will find
Nah we were born as animals
Born as animals and we bros
But you put suits on animals
You try to put suits on animals but we bros
We bros you lost man
We bros so long
Put away your guns man
And sing this song (we bros, we bros)
Sail on you and me
This ships set sail
I just wanted to be free
So maybe we will fail
Fail to not see
Maybe we will fail
But at least we will be free
You stand so holy
Nah don't sit down
Join the feet all marching
Across the ground
This place so lonely
But nah don't settle down
Just hear the beat drown over
All this lonesome sound
It's a sad song that makes a man put
Money before life
A sad song that puts a man for sale
A sad song that make a man put
Money before life
How many asses are you gonna have to sell
We were born as animals
We were born as animals and we bros
But you put suits on animals
You try to put suits on animals but we bros
We bros you lost man
We bros so long
Put away your guns man
And sing this song
And I said the mountain wont go falling
If your still willing to climb
But when the mountain goes falling
True riches you will find
Nah we were born as animals
Born as animals and we bros
But you put suits on animals
You try to put suits on animals but we bros
We bros you lost man
We bros so long
Put away your guns man
And sing this song (we bros, we bros)
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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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.
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Summer anthem of 2011 right here.
Beginning to realize that you might fail the crown but it's worth it as long as you're free and together
Also really trying to get across the beauty in the animal being within humanity
God I love this band.
There's something beautifully feral about this song and WU LYF in general that just makes it fucking irresistable.
Also really trying to get across the beauty in the animal being within humanity