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.
Wake up young man
It's time to wake up
Your love affair has got to go
For ten long years
For ten long years
The leaves to rake up
Slow suicide's no way to go
Oh
Blue clouded gray
You're not a crack up
Dizzy and weakened by the haze
Movin' onward
So an infection not a phase
Yeah oh
The cracks and lines
From where you gave up
They make an easy man to read
Oh oh, oh oh
For all the times
You let them bleed you
For a little peace from God you plead
And beg
For a little peace from God you plead
Oh oh oh oh
Yeah oh
Oh oh oh oh
Yeah oh
Oh oh oh oh
Yeah oh
Wake up young man
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Oh yeah
Wake up young man
It's time to wake up
Your love affair has got to go, yeah
For ten long years
For ten long years
The leaves the rake up
Slow suicide's no way to go oh, oh oh
Slow suicide's no way to go
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up
It's time to wake up
Your love affair has got to go
For ten long years
For ten long years
The leaves to rake up
Slow suicide's no way to go
Oh
Blue clouded gray
You're not a crack up
Dizzy and weakened by the haze
Movin' onward
So an infection not a phase
Yeah oh
The cracks and lines
From where you gave up
They make an easy man to read
Oh oh, oh oh
For all the times
You let them bleed you
For a little peace from God you plead
And beg
For a little peace from God you plead
Oh oh oh oh
Yeah oh
Oh oh oh oh
Yeah oh
Oh oh oh oh
Yeah oh
Wake up young man
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Oh yeah
Wake up young man
It's time to wake up
Your love affair has got to go, yeah
For ten long years
For ten long years
The leaves the rake up
Slow suicide's no way to go oh, oh oh
Slow suicide's no way to go
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
Wake Up Lyrics as written by Layne Staley Mike Mccready
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
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.
Cajun Girl
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Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
"The cracks and lines from where you gave up, they make an easy man to read" probably refers to the scars left on his body by heroin use. Every time he tried to stop using people would judge him by those. I guess this made it even harder for him because everyone only saw him as a hapless junkie and it's hard to change on your own when people see you as only that.