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've seen your "Johnny come lately"
Seen your exiled love parade
For you, another hit is so easy
One more mask for the charade
Yeah, you don't hear the sounds I hear
Yeah, you don't feel the fear you fear
The distance that is there
Well, it's wearing pretty thing now
And breaking you down is gonna be so easy
I've felt your high and mighty
Parasols and darkest shades
Your sideways glance says "maybe"
Longing eyes give you away
Yeah, you don't hear the sounds I hear
Yeah, you don't feel the fear you fear
The distance that is there
Well, it's wearing pretty thing now
And breaking you down is gonna be so easy
We'll walk this way now, baby
Bring the pleasure, bring the pain
Your secret's safe with me for saving
No one has to know you came
Yeah, you don't hear the sounds I hear
Yeah, you don't feel the fear you fear
The distance that is there
Well, it's wearing pretty thing now
And breaking you down is gonna be so easy
Seen your exiled love parade
For you, another hit is so easy
One more mask for the charade
Yeah, you don't hear the sounds I hear
Yeah, you don't feel the fear you fear
The distance that is there
Well, it's wearing pretty thing now
And breaking you down is gonna be so easy
I've felt your high and mighty
Parasols and darkest shades
Your sideways glance says "maybe"
Longing eyes give you away
Yeah, you don't hear the sounds I hear
Yeah, you don't feel the fear you fear
The distance that is there
Well, it's wearing pretty thing now
And breaking you down is gonna be so easy
We'll walk this way now, baby
Bring the pleasure, bring the pain
Your secret's safe with me for saving
No one has to know you came
Yeah, you don't hear the sounds I hear
Yeah, you don't feel the fear you fear
The distance that is there
Well, it's wearing pretty thing now
And breaking you down is gonna be so easy
Lyrics submitted by sawg, edited by liam540109
Easy Lyrics as written by Daniel Bell Lyla Foy-phillips
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
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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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"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 one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
She has some other guy and is using him as a 'back-up plan'. He realizes this and calls her out in it.
I've seen your "Johnny Come Lately" Seen your exiled love parade For you another hit is so easy One more mask for the charade
Chorus: Yea, you don't hear the sounds I hear Yea, you don't feel the fear you fear The distance that is there Well it's wearing really thin now And breaking you down is gonna be so easy
I've felt your high and mighty Parasols and darkest shades Your sideways glance says maybe Longing eyes give you away
(Chorus)
We'll walk this way now baby Bring the pleasure bring the pain Your secret's safe with me for saving No one has to know you came
(Chorus)
After looking at the correct lyrics, the song is about a secret affair with a woman who always sems to be in control of men until she meets her match. He realizes that she will be feeling him more than he will be feeling her.
Surprised there aren't more posts - this is one of my favorite Fuel songs. Very seductive. Sounds like she is a total mind @#$% for the guy and he can't help but give in.
I've always though that, if a man sang this to me, I'd probably surrender to his request. I mean, he is flagrantly inviting her to cheat, and she's not precisely a nun... so the inevitable, vibrating ending for this (smart yet seductive) petition will be infidelity. She tries to pretend she's resisting but "longing eyes give you away". He promises to keep the secret: "We'll walk this way now baby, Bring the pleasure bring the pain, Your secret's safe with me for saving, No one has to know you came"... pretty sharp, huh?
Sounds about right;)
Easy... breaking you down is going to be so easy.
She is all these good things, but he see's right through her. He is going to use her!
She has let her guard down and let him come in unexpected to her, she thinks she has everything all under control, but she doesn't realize that she may control the things she wears and the things that she has but she can't control the manipulation someone else can do to her.
Thats my take on it. I have had this song in my head for days. It has perfect meaning to me.
My interpretation is that there is a guy is going through depression and the line "breaking you down is going to be so easy" is when he gets anti depressants.