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.
What ghosts exist behind these attic walls?
There's got to be a simpler explanation,
Cause I scrimped and I saved
Just to find that they've been splicing my inventions.
Cold skin and bones and this latitude;
We ain't paying until the heat comes through.
So you slept in a stocking cap and wool scarf and the
Promises of payments were
Upon your shoulders constantly,
But don't foget to entertain
Cause this is your first defense.
Four-year offense to the devoted type.
I may have got an invitation, but I wasn't invited.
But I thought that this meant
Something more than broken hearts and new addictions.
We'll leave our sins within the carpet twine.
Our bodies will dissolve the chemicals in due time.
Promises of payments were
Upon your shoulders constantly,
But don't forget to entertain
Cause this is your first defense.
This is your first defense.
This is a first defense.
This was a first defense.
This is my last defense.
There's got to be a simpler explanation,
Cause I scrimped and I saved
Just to find that they've been splicing my inventions.
Cold skin and bones and this latitude;
We ain't paying until the heat comes through.
So you slept in a stocking cap and wool scarf and the
Promises of payments were
Upon your shoulders constantly,
But don't foget to entertain
Cause this is your first defense.
Four-year offense to the devoted type.
I may have got an invitation, but I wasn't invited.
But I thought that this meant
Something more than broken hearts and new addictions.
We'll leave our sins within the carpet twine.
Our bodies will dissolve the chemicals in due time.
Promises of payments were
Upon your shoulders constantly,
But don't forget to entertain
Cause this is your first defense.
This is your first defense.
This is a first defense.
This was a first defense.
This is my last defense.
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
Scientist Studies Lyrics as written by Benjamin Gibbard
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Piecing together the title of the song as well as the lyrics, I think the song is about gibbard's first year at college. If you take the lyrics very literally, the first stanza is him being pissed off about how cold the attic is. He's paying his rent in full, he's asked for heat from the landlord, and they just won't fix it. His only explanation is there's ghosts in the walls. (like the myth of cold spells when ghosts are nearby). So after they fuck up trying to fix the heat, they lay the smack down and say hey, i'm not payin rent til that heat is fixed.. i'd rather sleep in a damn winter coat.
The chorus is simply about him playing shows to make money to pay rent, and how entertaining people at shows is his best way to come up with dough (first defense).
He decides college is more like prison, and enrolling is a "four-year offense" (like a sentence for a criminal) if you are devoted enough to stick it out and get a degree. His "invitation" was his admittance to the university, but he didn't really fit in and wasn't cut out for college (he knew he wasn't really invited.. he would never do well). So, like many people, he said fuck it and took up alcohol/drug habits and just played shows for money. The chemicals will pass through your system, but the spilt drinks will and throw up will be soaked up by the carpet. He thought college would get him success and a promising future, but failed relationships and pressing for rent led to binge drinking and what not (broken hearts and addictions).
In the end, college isn't for ben, and he's playing shows just to pay his rent.
a.) What a freakin' amazing song. The hooks are sick. And the baseline is addicting, almost Pinback, but less-mechanical and more melodic.<br /> b.) Granted I have no knowledge of Ben Gibbard's life, your interpretation seems pretty spot-on and makes me appreciate the song that much more. Thanks man.
@savestheday3785 I agree with most of you're interpretation mate,but i think with thw chorus " Promises of payments were upon your shoulders" is him telling his land lord that he can't make the payments but i promise to pay them . and with the "first defense" i think its referring to the land lords incompetence to provide proper accommodation and he is "entertaining" by bull shit stories people like that usually tell to distract from their slack work,
when i really looked at the lyrics it reminded me of a college student living in a dorm for the first time...or an apartment...or someone's attic... somewhere they have to pay rent.
"what ghosts exist behind thses attic walls?" may mean like who has lived here before me?! what has happened here before me?! especially in a dorm.
the other lines could involve the type of dicomfort one may feel in a new situation like this.
i would say it is the first year of college because of the line "this is your first defense" and a four year collage because of the line "a four-year offense to the devoted type". there is something to do with the defense vs. offense aspect but i cant quite put it into words.
then the student is thinking...oh man i thought after highschool all the drama was over...hense the line "i thought that this meant something more than broken hearts and new addictions".
and there are open door parties that everone is invited to hense "i may have got an invitation but i wasn't invited." ...the open door = invitation, but not a real or personal one.
i donno for sure if this is even close but it is my take on the song. i would like to hear more opinions.
Wow. savestheday3785 pretty much nails it, and yet people continue to post their absurd interpretations...
This is currently my favorite DCFC song. I love the way it slowly builds. It leaves me with a dizzy sort of feeling afterwards. And you can't beat lines like "We'll leave our sins within the carpet twine. Our bodies will dissolve the chemicals in due time."
i interpreted the ghosts in the attic part to be an allusion to a soul residing within our heads??
calm down with the all caps x_awful_eifel_x, no one cares about what you have to say when you come off as extremely obnoxious.
i care
but i thought that this meant something more than broken hearts and new addictions - love that lyric. love this song also.
I wonder if the "I may have got an invitation but I wasn't invited" line is a reference to the story told in "company calls" and "company calls epilogue"
TEHTOMATO IS SO RIGHT