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 lies in a bedpan with her name scrawled on her back
It sure sounds funny when you say his name like that
He lies in an empty room with his hair burnt to the back
It sure sounds funny when you say his name like that
Ship me off to the morgue I'm ready to be buried alone way down in my bed
And I'm alone without the sun
Send me off to the morgue I'm ready to be buried away down in my bed
And I'm alone without the sun
Please just take one
And by the grace of god go I into the great unknown
Thing are gonna change in our favor
And if we gather, if we fall over the great unknown
Things are gonna change in our favor
100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 Oh they're found dead, dead
And I am numb from watching TV
100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 Oh they're just there, there
And I am numb from Watching TV
Please don't break me
And by the grace of god go I into the great unknown
Things are gonna change in our favor
And if we gather, if we fall over the great unknown
Things are gonna change in our favor
(Instrumental break)
Please just take one....
And by the grace of god go I into the great unknown
Things are gonna change in our favor
And if we gather, if we fall over the great unknown
Thing are gonna change in our favor
It sure sounds funny when you say his name like that
He lies in an empty room with his hair burnt to the back
It sure sounds funny when you say his name like that
Ship me off to the morgue I'm ready to be buried alone way down in my bed
And I'm alone without the sun
Send me off to the morgue I'm ready to be buried away down in my bed
And I'm alone without the sun
Please just take one
And by the grace of god go I into the great unknown
Thing are gonna change in our favor
And if we gather, if we fall over the great unknown
Things are gonna change in our favor
100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 Oh they're found dead, dead
And I am numb from watching TV
100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 Oh they're just there, there
And I am numb from Watching TV
Please don't break me
And by the grace of god go I into the great unknown
Things are gonna change in our favor
And if we gather, if we fall over the great unknown
Things are gonna change in our favor
(Instrumental break)
Please just take one....
And by the grace of god go I into the great unknown
Things are gonna change in our favor
And if we gather, if we fall over the great unknown
Thing are gonna change in our favor
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
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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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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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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/
I understand that the song was a tribute to Kurt Cobain, but I wonder if the "100...600 found dead and I am numb from watching TV" verse had something to do with the 1994 Rwanda tragedy. Shortly after Kurt Cobain died and ten years before the ongoing crisis in Darfur, there was massive, somewhat mind-numbing TV coverage of a horrible civil war in Rwanda in which nearly a million innocent civilians were hatefully killed in cold blood. I was just pointing that out and, if that verse was commentary on the Rwanda's infamous spotlight or not, I want to see if anyone has an answer.