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.
I sing myself to sleep
A song from the darkest hour
Secrets I can't keep
In sight of the day
Swing from high to deep
Extremes of sweet and sour
Hope that God exists
I hope, I pray
Drawn by the undertow
My life is out of control
I believe this wave will bear my weight
So let it flow
Oh sit down (sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down, sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down)
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down (sit down, sit down)
Down, down, down (sit down, sit down)
In sympathy
Now I'm relieved to hear
That you've been to some far out places
It's hard to carry on
When you feel all alone
Now I've swung back down again
And it's worse than it was before
If I hadn't seen such riches
I could live with being poor
Oh sit down (sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down, sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down)
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down (sit down, sit down)
Down, down, down (sit down, sit down)
In sympathy
Those who feel the breath of sadness
Sit down next to me
Those who find they're touched by madness
Sit down next to me
Those who find themselves ridiculous
Sit down next to me
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate
Down
Down
Oh sit down (sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down, sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down)
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down (sit down, sit down)
Down, down, down (sit down, sit down)
In sympathy
Oh sit down (sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down, sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down)
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down (sit down, sit down)
Down, down, down (sit down, sit down)
In sympathy
Down
A song from the darkest hour
Secrets I can't keep
In sight of the day
Swing from high to deep
Extremes of sweet and sour
Hope that God exists
I hope, I pray
Drawn by the undertow
My life is out of control
I believe this wave will bear my weight
So let it flow
Oh sit down (sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down, sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down)
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down (sit down, sit down)
Down, down, down (sit down, sit down)
In sympathy
Now I'm relieved to hear
That you've been to some far out places
It's hard to carry on
When you feel all alone
Now I've swung back down again
And it's worse than it was before
If I hadn't seen such riches
I could live with being poor
Oh sit down (sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down, sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down)
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down (sit down, sit down)
Down, down, down (sit down, sit down)
In sympathy
Those who feel the breath of sadness
Sit down next to me
Those who find they're touched by madness
Sit down next to me
Those who find themselves ridiculous
Sit down next to me
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate
Down
Down
Oh sit down (sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down, sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down)
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down (sit down, sit down)
Down, down, down (sit down, sit down)
In sympathy
Oh sit down (sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down, sit down)
Oh sit down (sit down)
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down (sit down, sit down)
Down, down, down (sit down, sit down)
In sympathy
Down
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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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This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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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.
This song is about drugs and depression - thats what they said in an interview. Its someone rich who has spent all money on high-class drugs, lost it all and is spiralling down out of control taking so meone with him. As Morrissey put it (and a strong champion for James when they made it big in the 1980s) there is no debata - no debate.
@CharmingMan Exactly right, my friend! Clearly a Smiths fan, judging by your user name?! I was always/will be a New Order fan first & foremost (& most top Factory Records bands, like the Monday's, for example!) but adore The Stone Roses, The Smiths & what Barny & Johnny Marr created with Electronic...The Other Two also made some nice songs but Hooky's side-projects have always been a bit hit-and-miss!! Respect from "Down Under", my friend!!