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.
On the way
Trying to get where I'd like to say
I'm always feeling steered away
By someone trying to tell me
What to say and do
I don't want it
I gotta go find my own way
I gotta go make my own mistakes
Sorry man for feeling
Feeling the way I do
On yeah, Oh yeah
Open wide and they'll shove in
Their meaning of life
Oh yeah, Oh yeah
But not for me I'll do it on my own
Oh yeah, Oh yeah
Open wide and swallow their meaning of life
I can't make it work your way
Thanks but no thanks
By the way
I know your path has been tried and so
It may seem like the way to go
Me, I'd rather be found
Trying something new
And the bottom line
In all of this seems to say
There's no right and wrong way
Sorry if I don't feel like
Living the way you do
Trying to get where I'd like to say
I'm always feeling steered away
By someone trying to tell me
What to say and do
I don't want it
I gotta go find my own way
I gotta go make my own mistakes
Sorry man for feeling
Feeling the way I do
On yeah, Oh yeah
Open wide and they'll shove in
Their meaning of life
Oh yeah, Oh yeah
But not for me I'll do it on my own
Oh yeah, Oh yeah
Open wide and swallow their meaning of life
I can't make it work your way
Thanks but no thanks
By the way
I know your path has been tried and so
It may seem like the way to go
Me, I'd rather be found
Trying something new
And the bottom line
In all of this seems to say
There's no right and wrong way
Sorry if I don't feel like
Living the way you do
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Page
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Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
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“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.
Arent all Offspring songs like that? (blatant, i mean) still one of their best songs... offspring is like bad religion, you can't get tired of them and its not possible to not like just one of their songs...
i just love the sound of this song. it's also got a great meaning, another punk message. the song tells of how authority figures wanna shove down your throat their interpritation of how you should live your life. this song tells people to live life their own fuckin way, even if they make mistakes along the way
Just means do you own thing,find your own happiness and your own meaning of life,pretty blatant
Yeah, they definantly are not a poetic band, but there bass and beats are so damn catchy. I heard this song on an anime called Tekkin: THe Movie, and they got me in the mood for OS and ive been DL a shit load of songs.
I think someone screwed this up and posted 2 sets of lyrics.
Meaning of Life is about being forcefed your life to you instead of choosing your own path.
exactly what i would say
open wide....
yeah, it's not too hard to figure out this song, but it's awesome, it's one of my favorite songs by any band ever. get ixnay on the hombre if you don't already have it, it's fucking awesome.
not poetic, but definately has a message and is not meaningless ramblings like some punk and pop bands... I think it's perfect for their music. Why conceal the meaning? They still use satire and such, so it's deep, just not hidden. -Taco
this song is amazing. why the hell are there so few posts?
in the same vein as all i want, its about finding things for yourself and taking the other road. Pretty much ecompasing the meaning of punk. good stuff.
this is what i find preps and tredy bitches are like but you have to look back we were all once forced to conform and if you wern't you are prolly fucked up in life... or you are a prep now... i have to agree with prodigal... along with The kids arn't alright this song means alot... reminds me... don't follow the trends its not cool lol