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.
She never wanted a baby
It would just complicate her life
But after years of wine and roses
She became somebody's wife
And he had always dreamed of children
So she reluctantly gave in
And when she held her newborn daughter
She felt her life finally begin
She cried, my darling, please forgive me
I've been been lost and I've been blind
Trying to fill the empty places
While you've been waiting all this time
One true thing is all I want
One pure light to shine on through
Oh, my darling, please forgive me
I didn't know it was you
He never thought he would marry
Too many women to explore
And even standing at the altar
He knew, somehow, he wanted more
Until the night he almost lost her
He kneeled beside her bed and cried
For all the love he never gave her
He felt so ashamed inside
He cried, my darling, please forgive me
I've been been lost and I've been blind
Trying to fill the empty places
While you've been waiting all this time
One true thing is all I want
One pure light to shine on through
Oh, my darling, please forgive me
I didn't know it was you
We walk this road in trouble
With an ache inside our souls
We can't hide it with religion
We can't buy it off with gold
And the pleasures we all reach for
They're just masters of disguise
While there is power in the glory
of what lies right before our eyes
Oh dear father please forgive us
We've been lost and we've been blind
Trying to fill the empty places
While you've been waiting all this time
One true thing is all we want
One pure light to shine on through
Oh, dear father, please forgive us
We didn't know it was you
It would just complicate her life
But after years of wine and roses
She became somebody's wife
And he had always dreamed of children
So she reluctantly gave in
And when she held her newborn daughter
She felt her life finally begin
She cried, my darling, please forgive me
I've been been lost and I've been blind
Trying to fill the empty places
While you've been waiting all this time
One true thing is all I want
One pure light to shine on through
Oh, my darling, please forgive me
I didn't know it was you
He never thought he would marry
Too many women to explore
And even standing at the altar
He knew, somehow, he wanted more
Until the night he almost lost her
He kneeled beside her bed and cried
For all the love he never gave her
He felt so ashamed inside
He cried, my darling, please forgive me
I've been been lost and I've been blind
Trying to fill the empty places
While you've been waiting all this time
One true thing is all I want
One pure light to shine on through
Oh, my darling, please forgive me
I didn't know it was you
We walk this road in trouble
With an ache inside our souls
We can't hide it with religion
We can't buy it off with gold
And the pleasures we all reach for
They're just masters of disguise
While there is power in the glory
of what lies right before our eyes
Oh dear father please forgive us
We've been lost and we've been blind
Trying to fill the empty places
While you've been waiting all this time
One true thing is all we want
One pure light to shine on through
Oh, dear father, please forgive us
We didn't know it was you
Lyrics submitted by nerdland
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Light Up The Sky
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Fast Car
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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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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
No Surprises
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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'
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/