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.
You know it's hard to be yourself
Free yourself, to see yourself
When all around you there are lies just to get you
Spies just to get you, to buy so they can get you?
There are cameras in the sky, lasers in our living rooms
There are wolves watching wearing sheep's costumes
It's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
It's enough to make you mad
It's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
And I'm amazed I haven't yet
Isn't it a shame the way we cheat each other
Treat each other, beat each other?
It's a shame the way we use one other, abuse one another
And screw one another, it's true
They will lock you up in prison but they won't call it slavery
There are stolen children raised and trained in armies
It's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
It's enough to make you mad
It's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
And I'm amazed I haven't yet
Don't hesitate to speak your mind (speak your mind)
Never hesitate to speak your heart (speak your heart)
They'll call you crazy when you speak your mind (when you speak your mind)
So never, never hesitate (never hesitate)
'Cause it's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
It's enough to make you mad
It's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
And I'm amazed I haven't yet
Na sol them go lock you for prison?
Na sol them go beat you for prison?
Them no go call am slavery?
Na him them make me vex?
Na sol them go lock you for prison?
Na sol them go beat you for prison?
Na him they make me vex?
Na him they make me craze?
It's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
It's enough to make you mad
It's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
And I'd be crazy not to care
Free yourself, to see yourself
When all around you there are lies just to get you
Spies just to get you, to buy so they can get you?
There are cameras in the sky, lasers in our living rooms
There are wolves watching wearing sheep's costumes
It's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
It's enough to make you mad
It's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
And I'm amazed I haven't yet
Isn't it a shame the way we cheat each other
Treat each other, beat each other?
It's a shame the way we use one other, abuse one another
And screw one another, it's true
They will lock you up in prison but they won't call it slavery
There are stolen children raised and trained in armies
It's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
It's enough to make you mad
It's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
And I'm amazed I haven't yet
Don't hesitate to speak your mind (speak your mind)
Never hesitate to speak your heart (speak your heart)
They'll call you crazy when you speak your mind (when you speak your mind)
So never, never hesitate (never hesitate)
'Cause it's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
It's enough to make you mad
It's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
And I'm amazed I haven't yet
Na sol them go lock you for prison?
Na sol them go beat you for prison?
Them no go call am slavery?
Na him them make me vex?
Na sol them go lock you for prison?
Na sol them go beat you for prison?
Na him they make me vex?
Na him they make me craze?
It's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
It's enough to make you mad
It's enough to make you go crazy (whoa)
And I'd be crazy not to care
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Make You Crazy Lyrics as written by Brett Dennen
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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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'
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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/
Punchline
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.