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 man gotta right to decide his own destiny
And in this judgment there is no partiality
So arm in arms with arms
We'll fight this little struggle
'Cause that's the only way
We can overcome our little trouble
Brother, you're right, you're right
You're right, you're right, you're so right
We gon' fight (we gon' fight)
We'll have to fight (we gon' fight)
We gonna fight (we gon' fight)
Fight for our rights
Natty dread it inna (Zimbabwe)
Set it up in (Zimbabwe)
Mash it up-a inna Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Africans ah liberate (Zimbabwe), mh
No more internal power struggle
We come together to overcome the little trouble
Soon we'll find out who is the real revolutionary
'Cause I don't want my people to be contrary
And, brother, you're right, you're right
You're right, you're right, you're so right
We'll have to fight (we gon' fight)
We gonna fight (we gon' fight)
We'll have to fight (we gon' fight)
Fighting for our rights
Mash it up inna (Zimbabwe)
Natty trash it inna (Zimbabwe)
Africans ah liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
I and I ah liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Brother, you're right, you're right
You're right, you're right, you're so right
We gon' fight (we gon' fight)
We'll have to fight (we gon' fight)
We gonna fight (we gon' fight)
Fighting for our rights
To divide and rule could only tear us apart
In every man chest, mh, there beats a heart
So soon we'll find out who is the real revolutionaries
And I don't want my people to be tricked by mercenaries
Brother, you're right, you're right
You're right, you're right, you're so right
We'll have to fight (we gon' fight)
We gonna fight (we gon' fight)
We'll have to fight (we gon' fight)
Fighting for our rights
Natty trash it inna Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Mash it up inna Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Set it up inna Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Africans ah liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Africans ah liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Natty dub it inna Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Set it up inna Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Africans ah liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Every man got a right to decide his
And in this judgment there is no partiality
So arm in arms with arms
We'll fight this little struggle
'Cause that's the only way
We can overcome our little trouble
Brother, you're right, you're right
You're right, you're right, you're so right
We gon' fight (we gon' fight)
We'll have to fight (we gon' fight)
We gonna fight (we gon' fight)
Fight for our rights
Natty dread it inna (Zimbabwe)
Set it up in (Zimbabwe)
Mash it up-a inna Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Africans ah liberate (Zimbabwe), mh
No more internal power struggle
We come together to overcome the little trouble
Soon we'll find out who is the real revolutionary
'Cause I don't want my people to be contrary
And, brother, you're right, you're right
You're right, you're right, you're so right
We'll have to fight (we gon' fight)
We gonna fight (we gon' fight)
We'll have to fight (we gon' fight)
Fighting for our rights
Mash it up inna (Zimbabwe)
Natty trash it inna (Zimbabwe)
Africans ah liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
I and I ah liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Brother, you're right, you're right
You're right, you're right, you're so right
We gon' fight (we gon' fight)
We'll have to fight (we gon' fight)
We gonna fight (we gon' fight)
Fighting for our rights
To divide and rule could only tear us apart
In every man chest, mh, there beats a heart
So soon we'll find out who is the real revolutionaries
And I don't want my people to be tricked by mercenaries
Brother, you're right, you're right
You're right, you're right, you're so right
We'll have to fight (we gon' fight)
We gonna fight (we gon' fight)
We'll have to fight (we gon' fight)
Fighting for our rights
Natty trash it inna Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Mash it up inna Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Set it up inna Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Africans ah liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Africans ah liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Natty dub it inna Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Set it up inna Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Africans ah liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Every man got a right to decide his
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Light Up The Sky
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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.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I think what Bob is trying to say in this song is that we have to fight for everything we do, if it really means something to us. It's about actually overcoming the struggle, the struggle itself is trivial but it has to be overcome. When he says "and soon we'll find out who are the real revolutionaries cause I don't want my people to be contrary" he means we need to actually overcome the problem, not simply discuss it, but overcome it. If there is no attempt to overcome the struggle, and yet people complain then it's a contradiction.