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.
Song number one is not a fuck you song
I'll save that thought until later on
You want to know if there's something wrong? It's nothing
Everybody's talking about their hometown scenes And hurting people's feelings in their magazines You
Want to know what it all means?
It's nothing
Fighting for a haircut?
Then grow your hair
Crying for the music?
I doubt you really care
Looking for an answer?
You can find it anywhere
It's nothing
Life is what you want it to be
So don't get tangled up trying to be free
And don't worry what the other people see
It's nothing
I'll save that thought until later on
You want to know if there's something wrong? It's nothing
Everybody's talking about their hometown scenes And hurting people's feelings in their magazines You
Want to know what it all means?
It's nothing
Fighting for a haircut?
Then grow your hair
Crying for the music?
I doubt you really care
Looking for an answer?
You can find it anywhere
It's nothing
Life is what you want it to be
So don't get tangled up trying to be free
And don't worry what the other people see
It's nothing
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
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Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
It has always seemed to me that this song is Fugazi announcing themselves to the music scene.
"Song #1 is not a fuck you song" Hardcore punk was largely political, but when you're shouting for approximatley one minute you can't get much deeper than "Fuck you"
"I'll save that for later on" But hey, Fugazi isn't entirely against saying "Fuck you"
"Everybody's talking about their hometown scenes and hurting people's feelings in their magazines you want to know what it all means? It's nothing" Here they're decrying the gossip of the 'scene.' People in any community ultimately seemt to lose sight of the intention and end up being mad at one another behind each other's backs.
"fighting for a haircut? then grow your hair crying for the music? i doubt you really care looking for an answer? you can find it anywhere"
Kids at hardcore shows would routinely get beaten up simply for having long hair. MacKaye then points out how shallow the scene had become, that music was secondary to the politics.
I agree with Omnicide.
It reminds me of why Fugazi is so great. It's punk that transcends any scene or genre or any border you can throw at it. Most bands and in fact most people can't do the same.
the last line sums it up for me
Yep, it's Fugazi's entire ethos in one song.
yeah and you have your own power to do what you want and still have respect for others kind of thing or have i gonetoo far
It is a song about Henry Rollins - Ians good friend since childhood- coming back to DC after he had joined Black Flag. Many of the straight edge punk elitists were disappointed in Henry because the Flag guys drank and smoked pot..etc Many of them also accused Henry of selling out because he left the DC scene to be in a "big rock band" and felt he had abandoned his roots. Black Flag was famous for having long hair at a time when long hair "was for hippies". Ian toured with Black Flag alot...often paying his own way and providing security as well as being a roadie. Great Band!
I love Fugazi
Around 93 or 94 this song was on the jukebox in the pool room at Reed College, good times... It seemed to fit the attitude on campus at the time too: Do your thing, and quit bitching about what everyone else is doing!