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.
Oh, that I
Could bend my tongue outwards
Leave your lungs hurting
Tucking my shirt in
Pants I wear so well
Cross your t's, shirt smells
Worse than your lying
Caught my dad crying
Loose like the wind
From the rough we get par
Sleet city woman
Waiting to spar
I'm drowning for your thirst
Drowning for your thirst
Drowning for your thirst
Drowning for your thirst
Getting off, on the candelabra
We call her Barbara
Breeding like larva
She rabble-rousing
Dental surf combat
Get out those hardhats
And sing and us some skat
Blade lovers gush
Chained and perfumed
I don't need a minister
To call me a groom
But I'm rattled by the rush
Rattled by the rush
Rattled by the rush
Rattled by the rush
Argh
Oh
Ah
No soap in the john
No soap in the john
No soap in the john
No soap in the john
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush) makes you want to say your prayers
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
Makes you want to say you're down
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
Makes you want to say you're down
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
Makes you want to say you're down
Could bend my tongue outwards
Leave your lungs hurting
Tucking my shirt in
Pants I wear so well
Cross your t's, shirt smells
Worse than your lying
Caught my dad crying
Loose like the wind
From the rough we get par
Sleet city woman
Waiting to spar
I'm drowning for your thirst
Drowning for your thirst
Drowning for your thirst
Drowning for your thirst
Getting off, on the candelabra
We call her Barbara
Breeding like larva
She rabble-rousing
Dental surf combat
Get out those hardhats
And sing and us some skat
Blade lovers gush
Chained and perfumed
I don't need a minister
To call me a groom
But I'm rattled by the rush
Rattled by the rush
Rattled by the rush
Rattled by the rush
Argh
Oh
Ah
No soap in the john
No soap in the john
No soap in the john
No soap in the john
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush) makes you want to say your prayers
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
Makes you want to say you're down
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
Makes you want to say you're down
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
(Rattled by the rush)
Makes you want to say you're down
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
Rattled by the Rush Lyrics as written by Stephen Joseph Malkmus
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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actually, you know in the perfect sound forever book (or melody maker if you happened to read that issue) he says (in his aloof, oblique, sarcastic sort of way) that it's about marriage? i'm inclined to agree. the whole minister part is obvious, and then at the beginning i think he's talking about getting ready for the ceremony, tucking in his shirt and seeing his dad cry. More specifically, i think it's about being rushed into a marriage and then realising on the wedding day that you're making a huge mistake.
i think the gushers, chained and perfumed are the bridesmades. As for the rest, well, SM's pretty impressonistic. some of it probably only makes sense to him.
it's worth mentioning that to this day he still isnt married.
I totally agree with your interp, but he is in fact married and did so in 2004!
It's about growing up. In the beginning, it's like "Oh that I, could bend my tongue outwards, leave your lungs hurtin" It's a kid, making his friends laugh with funny faces. The next part is just defining moments about growing up. The lyric "Rattled by the Rush" is being frightened by how fast it happens, and how sudden growing up is.
I think it's more about after someone experiences sex (it's not hard to see if you're looking) for the first time, and feeling guilty (the references to prayer) and "rattled by the rush" at the same time.
in my skewed point of view, i think its about smoking grass and falling in love.
"Oh, that I could bend my tongue outwards Leave your lungs hurting Tuckin' my shirt in Pants I wear so well Cross your t's shirt smells"
trying to be yourself and look good while baked with the one you think you might love, mixed with problems at home. and youre just "rattled by the rush" of home and love, and crazy bud smokin. add a little bit of sex on top and anyone would be crazed and dazed.
its perhaps the easiest malkmus lyrics to extract meaning from. it's pretty obvious that its about marriage... like how people tell you "don't rush it. its a big committment." "I saw my dad crying" is in reference to being a disappointment by doing something hasty like getting married
this song is a perfect opener for Wowee Zoweee
you'll have the line "rattled by the rush" coming in and out of your head throughout the day after you've heard it a few times. you sort of feel what he's trying to say. you get 'rattled by the rush' of the world. and its hard to snap back into their reality when in reverie.
Are you retarded? We Dance is the first song from Wowee Zowee. Has anyone heard the riff used in Friends? It's weird when I hear it in friends now.
ZEROpumpkins you post on the sonic youth o-board.
This song is the perfect stone strut anthem.
i agree with the people say it's about marriage.
warsaw, he is married. he has two kids. you should check your facts before you say things.
he wasn't when i posted that, two years ago