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 was born before the storm
My mother placed a dozen thorns
The sorry's and the take it back's
Lay silent in her folded hands and
Head to headstone I just danced
Oblivious to consequence
As morning sank into the ground
The highest branch I sorted out
Oh, I didn't mean to let it go
I didn't mean to bruise but I lost control
And when she said to me it's still a ghost[?]
All your love may fade away
All you'll become may all go to waste
So I can't stand to hear you say it hurts
When it only gets much worse
It only gets much worse
Oh you caught me come to life
The moment when your eyes met mine
And from your bed, the sun came in
And to this day it never set
But here's to this I'm used to it[?]
I stepped out for some cigarettes
The neon lights they called me in
Her eyes like yours, just different
And no, I didn't mean to let you go
I didn't mean to bruise but I lost control
What didn't mean a thing destroyed us both
Darling
All your love may fade away
All you'll become may all go to waste
So I can't stand to hear you say it hurts
When it only gets much worse
It only gets much worse
I couldn't quite believe
The way you used to pull me down
It takes its toll[?]
I survived
The laws of gravity
Destroyed some property
I would not let them sink their teeth into my soul
Whoa-oh
All I love may fade away
All I become may all go to waste
So I can't stand, hear it say it hurts
When it only gets much worse
All I love may fade away
All we'll become may all go to waste
So I can't stand to hear you say it hurts
When it only gets much worse
It only gets much worse
My mother placed a dozen thorns
The sorry's and the take it back's
Lay silent in her folded hands and
Head to headstone I just danced
Oblivious to consequence
As morning sank into the ground
The highest branch I sorted out
Oh, I didn't mean to let it go
I didn't mean to bruise but I lost control
And when she said to me it's still a ghost[?]
All your love may fade away
All you'll become may all go to waste
So I can't stand to hear you say it hurts
When it only gets much worse
It only gets much worse
Oh you caught me come to life
The moment when your eyes met mine
And from your bed, the sun came in
And to this day it never set
But here's to this I'm used to it[?]
I stepped out for some cigarettes
The neon lights they called me in
Her eyes like yours, just different
And no, I didn't mean to let you go
I didn't mean to bruise but I lost control
What didn't mean a thing destroyed us both
Darling
All your love may fade away
All you'll become may all go to waste
So I can't stand to hear you say it hurts
When it only gets much worse
It only gets much worse
I couldn't quite believe
The way you used to pull me down
It takes its toll[?]
I survived
The laws of gravity
Destroyed some property
I would not let them sink their teeth into my soul
Whoa-oh
All I love may fade away
All I become may all go to waste
So I can't stand, hear it say it hurts
When it only gets much worse
All I love may fade away
All we'll become may all go to waste
So I can't stand to hear you say it hurts
When it only gets much worse
It only gets much worse
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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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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.