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.
Every time you shake someone's hand and it feels like your best friend,
Could it be that it's only superficiality?,
Without regard to well-being, without an inkling of compromise,
Handshakes are nothing but a subtle "fuck you",
Contracts determine the best friendships
This is the way of the modern world, everyone's vying for patronage,
This is the way of the modern world, and something has gotta give
Every time you shake someone's hand,
And you share neither color or creed,
You gotta overcome the obstacles of history,
There is restrained passion, mistrust, and bigotry
And these have created the new foundations of society,
There's no harmony just class and race
This is the way of the modern world,
Everyone's fighting for dominance,
This is the way of the modern world,
And something has gotta give
Now I believe in unity, and I am willing to compromise,
But I'm not gonna lie or sell my soul
Every time you shake someone's hand,
It determines where you stand,
And if you won't uphold your side then it's better to
Fend for yourself, and shun the handshake,
Someone's gotta give
Could it be that it's only superficiality?,
Without regard to well-being, without an inkling of compromise,
Handshakes are nothing but a subtle "fuck you",
Contracts determine the best friendships
This is the way of the modern world, everyone's vying for patronage,
This is the way of the modern world, and something has gotta give
Every time you shake someone's hand,
And you share neither color or creed,
You gotta overcome the obstacles of history,
There is restrained passion, mistrust, and bigotry
And these have created the new foundations of society,
There's no harmony just class and race
This is the way of the modern world,
Everyone's fighting for dominance,
This is the way of the modern world,
And something has gotta give
Now I believe in unity, and I am willing to compromise,
But I'm not gonna lie or sell my soul
Every time you shake someone's hand,
It determines where you stand,
And if you won't uphold your side then it's better to
Fend for yourself, and shun the handshake,
Someone's gotta give
Lyrics submitted by punk_in_drublic99
The Handshake Lyrics as written by Greg Graffin
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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 a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Just A Little Lovin'
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
no. its about the adult world of cynical patronage and everyones just looking for thier own way up. get to who they need to know, for their own ascent.
the part about not lying and selling your soul is great. b/c.. its basically portraying the general working class christian buiseness man or what not.
just like yea... Ima be selfish and reckless and ignorant.. but then again... Im morally centered.. and have christian values... and... its basically just portraying the stereotypical morally centered christian man of the status quo. contributing to all these horrible things but when scrutinized, maintains constant stubborn conservative or christian moral values...
its not difficult to see
its irony or sarcasm. and the fend for your self part.. people get all vivacious and supportive when that part plays, but its irony or sarcasm. cuz thats just the general outlook of everybody. everyman for himself out here in the jungle. justified... nobody's willing to help anybody else because their scrounging for themselves.. and yea... someones gotta give..