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.
Less talk, more dancing
If we could push off the sick conversation one more night
I surely would
My shoes have gathered the dust of the vineyard
Have I soiled your gown?
There's soil on your gown, like sangria
Cleanses the heart
Our clogged hearts are choking on the grime
As the big band waltzes on
Your stranded eyes whisper
"The dirt is out.
I can smell her on your velvet hands."
The dirt is out
are we stuck in the motions again?
Oh, but was it sweet
In the vineyard
Sangria, won't you bless
The starving lips
Such virgin lips
Would choke on all this grime
I've found some dirt under my nails
I'll scratch and bite until
The dirt is out
but sangria burns under my skin
The dirt is out
I thought I'd never wash these hands again
Under my skin
If we could push off the sick conversation one more night
I surely would
My shoes have gathered the dust of the vineyard
Have I soiled your gown?
There's soil on your gown, like sangria
Cleanses the heart
Our clogged hearts are choking on the grime
As the big band waltzes on
Your stranded eyes whisper
"The dirt is out.
I can smell her on your velvet hands."
The dirt is out
are we stuck in the motions again?
Oh, but was it sweet
In the vineyard
Sangria, won't you bless
The starving lips
Such virgin lips
Would choke on all this grime
I've found some dirt under my nails
I'll scratch and bite until
The dirt is out
but sangria burns under my skin
The dirt is out
I thought I'd never wash these hands again
Under my skin
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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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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I think a lot of what is already been said is about right. The song is about relationship issues as are most of Cursive's songs but, there's something about this one that makes is special… perhaps it’s because Tim sounds truly drunk and hurt while he’s singing his soul out.
Anyways, I see a couple dancing together, not saying anything to each other because too many thoughts are filling their heads. Each side knows they are guilty of deceiving the other and they also know that the other knows this. He clearly has alcohol abuse issues and she has a hard time committing to just one man. They had both been good for awhile but now both have gotten off the wagon. The funny thing is, it sounds as if the reason they started in on their bad habits is due to their lover. The stress of the relationship caused him to drink (“Oh, Sangria, won’t you bless these starving lips”) and her to cheat or get her dress dirty (“Have I soiled your gown? There’s soil on your gown.”) It’s a classic case of people who are so in love in the beginning, have every intention of helping their lover but, are so fucked up themselves that the end up only driving themselves/each other down. And the grime, the dirt, the soil - the problems they thought would just go away with the presence of this other person are staring right at them with drunk starry eyes as the band just keeps playing.