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.
They caught the last poor man on a poor man's vacation
The cuffed him and they confiscated his stuff
They dragged his black ass down to the station
And said, okay, the streets are safe now
All your pretty white children can come out and see spot run
And they came out of their houses
And they looked around but they didn't see no one
My country 'tis of thee
To take swings at each other on the talk show TV
Why don't you just go ahead and turn off the sun
'cause we'll never live long enough
To undo everything they've done to you
Undo everything they've done to you
Above 96th street
They're handin' out smallpox blankets so people don't freeze.
The old dogs have got a new trick
It's called criminalize the symptoms while you spread the disease
And I hold on hard to something
Between my teeth when I'm sleeping
I was up and my jaw aches
And the earth is full of earthquakes
My country 'tis of thee
To take shots at each other on prime time TV
Why don't you just go ahead and turn off the sun
'cause we'll never live long enough
To undo everything they've done to you
Undo everything they've done to you
And I'm trying to see through the glare
Yes, I'm struggling just to see what is there
The one person who really knows me best, says I'm like a cat
The kind of cat that you can't pick up and throw into your lap
No, the kind that doesn't mind being held only when it's her idea
Yeah, the kind that feels what she decides to feel
When she's good and ready to feel it
Now I am prowling through the backyard
And I am hiding under the car
I have gotten out of everything, I've gotten into so far
I eat when I am hungry and I travel alone
And just outside the glow of the house
Is where I feel most at home
But in the window you sometimes appear
And your music is faint in my ears
The cuffed him and they confiscated his stuff
They dragged his black ass down to the station
And said, okay, the streets are safe now
All your pretty white children can come out and see spot run
And they came out of their houses
And they looked around but they didn't see no one
My country 'tis of thee
To take swings at each other on the talk show TV
Why don't you just go ahead and turn off the sun
'cause we'll never live long enough
To undo everything they've done to you
Undo everything they've done to you
Above 96th street
They're handin' out smallpox blankets so people don't freeze.
The old dogs have got a new trick
It's called criminalize the symptoms while you spread the disease
And I hold on hard to something
Between my teeth when I'm sleeping
I was up and my jaw aches
And the earth is full of earthquakes
My country 'tis of thee
To take shots at each other on prime time TV
Why don't you just go ahead and turn off the sun
'cause we'll never live long enough
To undo everything they've done to you
Undo everything they've done to you
And I'm trying to see through the glare
Yes, I'm struggling just to see what is there
The one person who really knows me best, says I'm like a cat
The kind of cat that you can't pick up and throw into your lap
No, the kind that doesn't mind being held only when it's her idea
Yeah, the kind that feels what she decides to feel
When she's good and ready to feel it
Now I am prowling through the backyard
And I am hiding under the car
I have gotten out of everything, I've gotten into so far
I eat when I am hungry and I travel alone
And just outside the glow of the house
Is where I feel most at home
But in the window you sometimes appear
And your music is faint in my ears
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
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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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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
I look at it as another one of her fine social, anti-right, songs. Against conservatives who feel the need that anything different then their middle-class, white outlook is unacceptable.