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.
Even a blind squirrel
Finds a nut
Once in a while
Once you're in you're pretty much fucked
When I was the rat
The rat who would be king
I imagined typhoid
And us alone
Always us alone
And I've waited on the sidelines
All this time
All this time
And I've a grenade
With our names scratched on the side
But that's just love
And you know that love's not enough
No, no, love's not enough
Crawl from the sea
Wait for some thumbs
A greatness to breed
Build the mall of America
When I was the rat
The rat who would be king
I imagined ashes
And us alone
Always us alone
And I've waited on the sidelines
All this time
All this time
And I've a grenade
With our names scratched on the side
But that's just love
And you know that love's not enough
No, no, love's not enough
Love's not enough
Love's not enough
Finds a nut
Once in a while
Once you're in you're pretty much fucked
When I was the rat
The rat who would be king
I imagined typhoid
And us alone
Always us alone
And I've waited on the sidelines
All this time
All this time
And I've a grenade
With our names scratched on the side
But that's just love
And you know that love's not enough
No, no, love's not enough
Crawl from the sea
Wait for some thumbs
A greatness to breed
Build the mall of America
When I was the rat
The rat who would be king
I imagined ashes
And us alone
Always us alone
And I've waited on the sidelines
All this time
All this time
And I've a grenade
With our names scratched on the side
But that's just love
And you know that love's not enough
No, no, love's not enough
Love's not enough
Love's not enough
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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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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I love this song, i think its one of matt goods most poetic and powerful songs!
"I imagined ashes and us alone Always us alone"
That line gets to me everytime!
"And I've a grenade With our names scratched on the side But that's love." this is a great song
A great song to relate to. Especially the lines "And i've a grenade with out names scratched on the side but that's just love and you know love's not enough" its really sad and brutally true. If anyone's been in that situation where it feels like a battle, but there's still love.. you know it's not enough. Also, the lyric "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile" Sounds like "even I can get lucky once and awhile" i like the humility. In the end its just dark love baby
The symbolism used here is amazing. The picture Matt paints of a Rat, normally viewed as a dirty, worthless creature, elevated to a King by virtue of luck is powerful, and adds to the sense of loss in the song. It is clear from the line, 'and you know that love's not enough" that the Rat has lost, or is going to lose his love, and there is very little chance of him ever regaining it.
The most difficult part of the song for me to understand was the imagery of typhoid and ashes, and how these two disasters were imagined by the Rat and faced alone, without outside help. Perhaps Matt is trying to convey the Rat looking ahead, envisioning his future and only seeing death and sorrow. Or perhaps the Rat has megalomaniac tendencies, and he is imagining situations where in the face of these disasters he alone can help his love, which would bring them closer?
The analogy of love to a grenade with names scratched on the side is probably the most accurate description of love I have ever encountered. The idea of love being a battle is well depicted here, but the symbolism of a grenade takes it even further. Love, like a grenade, can be thrown away, and it will blow up in your face over one seemingly small event, in this case a pin being pulled.
I just saw Matthew Good live at a show, and he played this song, and it was so awesome.
IT's one of my favorite songs, and hearing it played live is even more beautiful.
This song is posted twice.