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.
Substation submerging
Suburban disturbance
Incoherent gourding
Coat of arms they came
Hack a knocking paranoia
In the walls, we heard family dying
While the band played on
Told sky to leave to the east bay clone
Weren't you taking me home
Secret service, we deserve this
We lost the friends to the pavement
To the pavement
Substation, subconscious
Let's do our William tell routine
Let's do it
Chewing on the Goodyear's handcuffs
Are the wristwatch
Suburban disturbance
Incoherent gourding
Coat of arms they came
Hack a knocking paranoia
In the walls, we heard family dying
While the band played on
Told sky to leave to the east bay clone
Weren't you taking me home
Secret service, we deserve this
We lost the friends to the pavement
To the pavement
Substation, subconscious
Let's do our William tell routine
Let's do it
Chewing on the Goodyear's handcuffs
Are the wristwatch
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Just wanted to note that the "William Tell" routine in naked lunch is based off a real life event that happened to William S. Burroughs the writer of the book "Naked Lunch" (the movie itself has very little in common with the book, as its a really abstract piece of literature. The movie acts as more of a Bio pic for Burroughs)
While drunk in Mexico Burrough's wife jumped up and said "lets do our William Tell Routine) in which she placed a glass on her head and Burroughs shot it off, unfortunately Burroughs ended up accidently shooting his wife.
I mention this because I read somewhere that Cedric has some lyrical inspiration from William Burroughs (which would make alot of sense if you ever read Burroughs and are familiar with Ced's lyrics) so many Cedric is referencing that event in that line, I dunno just a guess.
william tell routine could be from david cronenberg's film "naked lunch", where somebody says "lets do our william tell routine"....who knows
"in the walls, we heard family dying while the band played on told sky to leave to the east bay clone weren't you taking me home"
that always reminded me of the titanic.
'we lost the friends to the pavement to the pavement'
Cedric was previously the drummer for a band called 'The Fall On Deaf Ears'. The band ended when two members died in a car accident.
good insight but those girls didn't die until a year after this album was released. but it might have to do with their other friend who died, inspiring the song "televators" by the mars volta. if you want his story go the the songmeaning of that song.
I think the meaning in this song are just his memory of the night before 2 of the members from "The Fall On deaf Ears" died in that car accident..
"let's do our William tell routine let's do it"
seems like a re-enactment of the night
"in the walls, we heard family dying while the band played on told sky to leave to the east bay clone weren't you taking me home"
maybe he had a bad feeling something was going to happen..
lol, I dont know its hard to explain what I have in my mind about this, so it might not make sense to anyone haha
William Tell was an expert crossbow marksman from the Alps in Switzerland. He refusd to bow to the statue of the new emperor, and as a result was forced to shoot an apple off the head of his son with his bow. He successfully shot the apple from his son's head with no problems.
However, you are right about the William Tell routine being mentioned in Cronenberg's Naked Lunch. It is frequently mentioned in other movies and songs as well. :)
"chewing on the goodyear's handcuffs are the wristwatch "
Cedric was arrested under the influence of lsd. He had said he thought ww3 was happening and he tried to warn everyone about it because he knew what was going on.
A cop car became present and during this moment in time Cedric had chewed the tires on the cop car because he believed they were donuts.
hahaha are you serious!!! that's so funny ha!!!! lsd is the shit
"We lost friends to the pavement"
yeah. this line is a bit easier to figure out from reading on the bands background. two female friends died in a car crash when atdi was on the road. Cedric played drums in that band with them and the song Napoleon Solo is dedicated to them.
also of course their very close friend Julio who the song embroglio and the album Deloused is dedicated to died from jumping off a bridge onto traffic.
"secret service do we deserve this"
also reminds me of the song quarantined where cedric says "binoculars watch cardboard towns" his lyrics take on and cover so many meanings.