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.
Pay for the sign on the hill that says 'you're home'
Pay for the hole in the ground to place your bones
Pay for the words in your mouth to flow
Pay for the soles of your shoes to walk the streets of kings
Pay for the simplest things
Pay for the food on your plate to live
Pay for the mood in your mind to give a thought disguised
Pay for the simplest things
Who turned
Who turned the light out
Who turned
Who turned away
One hundred million
Fences around us
Can we own everything
Including the moon and the sun and the stars?
Pay for the whip on your back to break
Pay for the chain on your neck to control your life
Pay for everything
Pay for the hole in the ground to place your bones
Pay for the words in your mouth to flow
Pay for the soles of your shoes to walk the streets of kings
Pay for the simplest things
Pay for the food on your plate to live
Pay for the mood in your mind to give a thought disguised
Pay for the simplest things
Who turned
Who turned the light out
Who turned
Who turned away
One hundred million
Fences around us
Can we own everything
Including the moon and the sun and the stars?
Pay for the whip on your back to break
Pay for the chain on your neck to control your life
Pay for everything
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Light Up The Sky
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Just A Little Lovin'
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Dusty Springfield
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"'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/
Amazing
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
I love the words to this song. it's obvious that he's saying that we have to pay for everything these days, even "the simplest things." Its soo true. "Pay for the hole in the ground to place your bones." Even after death...this world sucks.
it's always baffled me how we can place a value on life and its basic necessities, and yet we clearly do. few people seem to realize how artificially bizarre that is. awesome idea for a song.
it seems there's also a line about drugs in there: "pay for the mood in your mind to give a thought disguised"
what do you suppose the "who turned the light out" chorus is all about? it's my favorite vocal part of the song.
maybe it's asking who started this insanity. the light being our common sense and natural emotions. now it's all fake.
of course idiot humans started it, and now we're stuck in all the shit weve started. the world sucks and were trapped with how weve made it.
It's sickening but I like how SDRE wrote a song about the philosophy behind their name... about the insanity of putting a price on things all humans inherently deserve... like sunny days.
Such a beautiful song, but it's very sad. I think you guys hit the meaning dead on.
'Pay for the hole in the ground to place your bones'
good stuff good stuff
jesus, jesus this song is beautiful ... how it feels to be something on carries this strange hallucinogenic quality throughout... the who turned the light out moment is so pure and wonderful
I agree great song , pretty straight forward in meaning I read somewhere that it was written by diffrent band member you do have to pay for simply everything you do and I too think the who turned the light out part is a great shift
I agree great song , pretty straight forward in meaning I read somewhere that it was written by diffrent band member you do have to pay for simply everything you do and I too think the who turned the light out part is a great shift
Basically about, how money seems to buy all the physical, perhaps contrived things in this world but not the happiness and contentment people seek even though people try to pay for such deep needs?<br /> <br /> I thought this was about environmental concerns. ???<br /> <br /> Funny, I just learned this week that the real chorus says, "Who turned the light out" when I'd been singing "Who turned the light on" -- hah!! Is there even a difference? Meaning of chorus?
I think you guys have the meaning perfectly, Isn't it an awful reality in which we live?
Why yes, yes it is.