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.
They say people out in Hollywood
Live their life out in black and white
They're livin' out a Technicolor dream
Next day, they're a star overnight
Not like in New York
Man, it's tougher
Not like in London town
Boy, you suffer
Nobody give a break
When you're down on your luck
Everybody's on the take
When you're down on your luck
You can't make a mistake
When you're down on your luck
People out in Hollywood
They got a lot of class
You see the boys struttin' down the boulevard
Tryin' to make a pass'
Not like in New York
It's high rise, it's concrete and complex
Not like in ol' London town
It reigns down on its subjects
Nobody give a damn
When you're down on your luck
Nobody understands
When you're down on your luck
Lady Chance, she won't dance
When you're down on your luck
People out in Hollywood
They can make it to the stars
They can reach the screen
Drive around in big expensive convertible cars
Not like in New York
All you've got is Broadway
Not like in the West end of London
You can't make it no way
Nobody give a damn
When you're down on your luck
Nobody understands
When you're down on your luck
Lady Chance, she won't dance
When you're down on your luck
You've got to strut your stuff
When you're down on your luck
You can't take it easy, it ain't good enough
When you're down on your luck
Everybody's on the make
When you're down on your luck
Nobody give a fair deal
When you're down on your luck
Nobody understands my Uncle Sam
When you're down on your luck
I'm ready for the dance
When you're down on your luck
I gotta make a dollar holler
When you're down on your luck
When you're down on your luck
Live their life out in black and white
They're livin' out a Technicolor dream
Next day, they're a star overnight
Not like in New York
Man, it's tougher
Not like in London town
Boy, you suffer
Nobody give a break
When you're down on your luck
Everybody's on the take
When you're down on your luck
You can't make a mistake
When you're down on your luck
People out in Hollywood
They got a lot of class
You see the boys struttin' down the boulevard
Tryin' to make a pass'
Not like in New York
It's high rise, it's concrete and complex
Not like in ol' London town
It reigns down on its subjects
Nobody give a damn
When you're down on your luck
Nobody understands
When you're down on your luck
Lady Chance, she won't dance
When you're down on your luck
People out in Hollywood
They can make it to the stars
They can reach the screen
Drive around in big expensive convertible cars
Not like in New York
All you've got is Broadway
Not like in the West end of London
You can't make it no way
Nobody give a damn
When you're down on your luck
Nobody understands
When you're down on your luck
Lady Chance, she won't dance
When you're down on your luck
You've got to strut your stuff
When you're down on your luck
You can't take it easy, it ain't good enough
When you're down on your luck
Everybody's on the make
When you're down on your luck
Nobody give a fair deal
When you're down on your luck
Nobody understands my Uncle Sam
When you're down on your luck
I'm ready for the dance
When you're down on your luck
I gotta make a dollar holler
When you're down on your luck
When you're down on your luck
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Hollywood Lyrics as written by William Scott Gorham Philip Parris Lynott
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Punchline
Ed Sheeran
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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.