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.
Mumbling and then a shrill scream
You and I were stuck in the waste
Talking about our salad days
What a damn lie
But you and I are stuck like glue
And that's the God damn truth
Baby, bye-bye
Well, you could turn to water and we'd all float on
Give up trying to be someone
Take your head apart
Free your own heart
You and I are stuck out of phase
Always begging for some grace when there's no time
We get no reply
Every night you were tripping out
In the morning you were coming down
If it's breaking your heart, if nothing is fun
Don't lose hope, my son
This is the last one
You and I repent of our sins
Yeah, we feel so American laying in the road
Was a shoe-in for the crash of the day
And we're never going to walk away
Never going home
I'm hoping that in time, you can lay down
All this weight you've been carrying around and maybe one day
You'll find your way
To climb on up out of your grave
With the bits of you you managed to save
And for the last time
Yeah, you say good-bye
Every night you were tripping out
In the morning you were coming down
If it's breaking your heart, if nothing is fun
Don't lose hope, my son
This is the last one
'Cause every night had you laid low
It's going to feel so good to let it go
It's all in your head, your race is run
Don't give up, my son, this is the last one
This is the last one
And he said, "You are not alone
You are not alone"
And he said, "You are not alone
You are not alone"
Every night you were tripping out
In the morning you were coming down
If it's breaking your heart, if nothing is fun
Don't lose hope, my son
This is the last one
Every night had you laid low
It's going to feel so good to let it go
It's all in your head, your race is run
Don't give up, my son, this is the last one
This is the last one
You and I were stuck in the waste
Talking about our salad days
What a damn lie
But you and I are stuck like glue
And that's the God damn truth
Baby, bye-bye
Well, you could turn to water and we'd all float on
Give up trying to be someone
Take your head apart
Free your own heart
You and I are stuck out of phase
Always begging for some grace when there's no time
We get no reply
Every night you were tripping out
In the morning you were coming down
If it's breaking your heart, if nothing is fun
Don't lose hope, my son
This is the last one
You and I repent of our sins
Yeah, we feel so American laying in the road
Was a shoe-in for the crash of the day
And we're never going to walk away
Never going home
I'm hoping that in time, you can lay down
All this weight you've been carrying around and maybe one day
You'll find your way
To climb on up out of your grave
With the bits of you you managed to save
And for the last time
Yeah, you say good-bye
Every night you were tripping out
In the morning you were coming down
If it's breaking your heart, if nothing is fun
Don't lose hope, my son
This is the last one
'Cause every night had you laid low
It's going to feel so good to let it go
It's all in your head, your race is run
Don't give up, my son, this is the last one
This is the last one
And he said, "You are not alone
You are not alone"
And he said, "You are not alone
You are not alone"
Every night you were tripping out
In the morning you were coming down
If it's breaking your heart, if nothing is fun
Don't lose hope, my son
This is the last one
Every night had you laid low
It's going to feel so good to let it go
It's all in your head, your race is run
Don't give up, my son, this is the last one
This is the last one
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More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"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.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
To me, there are more than enough signs and references to depression. What has been racking my brain is if the lyrics represent what he says to himself in his head? Or is this someone speaking to him. Maybe his father?