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.
I'm floating in a black balloon
OD on Easter afternoon
My mama told me
"Baby stay clean, there's no in between"
All you ladies and you gentlemen
Between's all you've ever seen or been
Fit poorly and and arrange the sight
Doll it up in virgin white
You disappoint me
You people raking in on the world
The devil's script sells
You the heart of a blackbird
Shine on me, baby
'Cause it's raining in my heart
Sun rising on a chopping glare
Rain dropping acid blotter in the air
Distorted reality's now a necessity
To be free
So disappointing
First I put it all down to luck
God knows why my
Country don't give a fuck (fuck)
Shine on me, baby
'Cause it's raining in my heart
Shine on me, baby
'Cause it's raining in my heart
OD on Easter afternoon
My mama told me
"Baby stay clean, there's no in between"
All you ladies and you gentlemen
Between's all you've ever seen or been
Fit poorly and and arrange the sight
Doll it up in virgin white
You disappoint me
You people raking in on the world
The devil's script sells
You the heart of a blackbird
Shine on me, baby
'Cause it's raining in my heart
Sun rising on a chopping glare
Rain dropping acid blotter in the air
Distorted reality's now a necessity
To be free
So disappointing
First I put it all down to luck
God knows why my
Country don't give a fuck (fuck)
Shine on me, baby
'Cause it's raining in my heart
Shine on me, baby
'Cause it's raining in my heart
Lyrics submitted by ghost06, edited by Mellow_Harsher, ian1774721, anonymous__, Bobbi53
A Distorted Reality Is Now a Necessity to Be Free Lyrics as written by Steven Paul Smith
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this song can be interpreted a lot of different ways, but to me it's about the use of street drugs and the use of anti-depressants/anti-anxiety medication.
The first part is about how he was on heroin and his mom told him you're either clean or not. You can't be kind of on heroin.
The second stanza is about how all the other people out there are "in between" because they're on mood altering drugs, but not addicted to a drug. If they don't quite fit, they must be abnormal and must need some kind of medication to alter their brains and make them fit in.
The third stanza is about how he's disappointed by the people who are raking in the money because of the weakness of the world. My favorite line is:
The devil's script sells you The heart of a blackbird
Which to me means that the devil's script (prescription mind altering medication) takes your human heart away and makes your heart as cold and uncaring as a blackbird.
His country don't give a fuck because they're all uncaring prescription pill zombies. Take the rest for what you will, but I think that the line:
"A distorted reality's now a necessity to be free"
is talking about how everyone thinks that to be free and happy they have to take medication which distorts their reality by making them happy or calm or whatever.
Just my take on it. What do you guys think?