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.
You paint your body beautiful
All the colours of the sky
Blinded by bubblegum
I never asked you why
If this is heaven we'll be alright
If we're in hell it’s way past midnight
It's a mistake now Andromeda
It's much too late now Andromeda
Can't see through this cloud of euphoria
It's a mistake now Andromeda
Don't choke on the stardust baby
Trouble with the neighborhood
You could say I've lost my taste
Tattooed and genuine
No the real things not a waste
It's a mistake now Andromeda
Can't see past this cloud of euphoria
It's a mistake now Andromeda
Go choke on the stardust baby
All the colours of the sky
Blinded by bubblegum
I never asked you why
If this is heaven we'll be alright
If we're in hell it’s way past midnight
It's a mistake now Andromeda
It's much too late now Andromeda
Can't see through this cloud of euphoria
It's a mistake now Andromeda
Don't choke on the stardust baby
Trouble with the neighborhood
You could say I've lost my taste
Tattooed and genuine
No the real things not a waste
It's a mistake now Andromeda
Can't see past this cloud of euphoria
It's a mistake now Andromeda
Go choke on the stardust baby
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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.
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
This is easily one of the most sweepingly beautiful, almost operatic pieces of music that sadly was too overlooked. If there was a modern day Queen epic rock ballad, this would be it.
Anywho, I think the lyrics are inspired by someone personal to him. So a lot of it looks obtuse to us because we don't personally know who it's dedicated to. It definitely has a lot to do with people's inclination to instant gratification. The first verse talking about her love of tattoos, tattoos are something instant gratification. Bubblegum is likely a metaphor or euphemism for something else, possibly drugs or alcohol. All of these things(substance abuse, body modification, or even something as simply as an innocent sugar rush) have the common thread of vices that supply that instant fix and are highly addictive. The singer is sadly and ironically reflecting that the same body art that makes her so breathtakingly beautiful to him should have been a red flag to foreshadow all her issues and eventual breakdown.
"If this is heaven we'll be alright If this is hell it’s way past midnight." One of my favorite lyrics EVER. Also alludes to her vices, how in the beginning phases it was perfect, it was so exhilarating and exciting. Heaven. Look later down the road, she's made some bad choices and is now in too deep to turn back or surrender. "In hell, it's way past midnight." It conveys perfectly his struggle of being by her side the whole way and sharing the ecstasy and subsequent suffering, and the tone seems very much like he wants to do more to help, but knows he can't pull her out all by himself, and almost conceding.
"It's a mistake now Andromeda It's much too late for Andromeda Can't see through this cloud of euphoria It's a mistake now Andromeda Don't choke on the stardust baby"
Reiterating the theme of regret but being too far gone or oblivious to the issue to resolve it now or achieve closure. The space allusions are a popular theme in songs about drug use. See a lot of Blind Melon, RHCP, I Mother Earth or Edwin songs, they like to do that too. Since a lot of illicit drugs, particularly heroin, hallucinogens, ecstasy, and speed, made you feel like you're either flying or floating in a different plane altogether. The overall mood seems almost mourning but as if he was too perceptive of the initial stages of her demise to be surprised enough to really feel for her. Almost angry even. But there's still a strong love there too keep him there and extend a hand out. It's the classic scenario of a troubled lover you want to 'save', but acquiescing you can't. So you have few choices, and none of them are really ideal from all sides. You can join them in their decay, you can untether yourself and leave them, or you can simply watch them plunge into darkness helplessly.
i really like this song, the lyrics are a bit too obscure to draw a central meaning, but i think its about seeing past the happy exterior (cloud of euphoria). how getting caught up in the happy image of something without seeing the truth is just the same as "ignorance is bliss"