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.
Come on and brace your face
Engulfed up in the rat race we hold our futures down
So just resist the plot and find the answer
Etched eternal
As we self destruct
[Chorus]
Day by day
One by one
More example of disrespect
That you seem to offer no more than complete neglect
A generation with fate all tied
This ain't a game
We don't enjoy this ride
Try to perceive the lie
All caught up in your own high
Opinions of yourself
Should be concerned about your life
There's been enough strife to crash a persons hope
And as the days delay our every other move
We've been consumed by apathy
That's right
It has become a pain
Inside my brain is screaming
Look what you've done to me
[chorus]
Break
Its just the break we're givin em
Break
Its just the break that you're givn' em
Break
Laid to waste out in the open
Turned away once again
This isn't right
This ain't supposed to happen
Now life's too short
We shouldn't have to die
And I have had to stop all of my emotions
Why
Oh bittering faith escapes again, again
Just look at what we have done
Will you look at who we've become
Priorities astray
It goes on and on each day
We've wrecked their only try
And still we wonder why
We're recipients
Of hate Motherfucker
Break your back
Just once and then you know
You gotta
Face your fright
That's right
Yeah
With your five second morals and your three second smile
You just
Face your fright
That's right
Yeah
With your five second morals and your three second smile
You just
Face your fright
That's right
Yeah
With your five second morals and your three second smile
You just
Face your fright
That's right
Yeah
With your five second morals and your three second smile
You just
Engulfed up in the rat race we hold our futures down
So just resist the plot and find the answer
Etched eternal
As we self destruct
[Chorus]
Day by day
One by one
More example of disrespect
That you seem to offer no more than complete neglect
A generation with fate all tied
This ain't a game
We don't enjoy this ride
Try to perceive the lie
All caught up in your own high
Opinions of yourself
Should be concerned about your life
There's been enough strife to crash a persons hope
And as the days delay our every other move
We've been consumed by apathy
That's right
It has become a pain
Inside my brain is screaming
Look what you've done to me
[chorus]
Break
Its just the break we're givin em
Break
Its just the break that you're givn' em
Break
Laid to waste out in the open
Turned away once again
This isn't right
This ain't supposed to happen
Now life's too short
We shouldn't have to die
And I have had to stop all of my emotions
Why
Oh bittering faith escapes again, again
Just look at what we have done
Will you look at who we've become
Priorities astray
It goes on and on each day
We've wrecked their only try
And still we wonder why
We're recipients
Of hate Motherfucker
Break your back
Just once and then you know
You gotta
Face your fright
That's right
Yeah
With your five second morals and your three second smile
You just
Face your fright
That's right
Yeah
With your five second morals and your three second smile
You just
Face your fright
That's right
Yeah
With your five second morals and your three second smile
You just
Face your fright
That's right
Yeah
With your five second morals and your three second smile
You just
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Gentle Hour
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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 Can't Go To Sleep
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i think its the other way around..im not sure...but maybe its about how people treated him...(we're all recipients of hate)...if you read about Volz, he went through some pretty tough shit....