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.
A welcome to my friends:
This house is a home and a home's where I belong
Where the feelings are warm and the foundations are strong
If my soul has a shape, well, then it is an ellipse
And this slap is a gift
'Cause your cheeks have lost their lustre
You know, your cheeks have lost their lustre
You know, your cheeks have lost their lustre
You know, your cheeks have lost their lustre, lustre, lustre, lustre
Take it back -- send return out of time
Tape machine needs to be aligned
Aloha means goodbye, and also hello -- it's in how you inflect
Put the bark in the dog, and you've got a guardian
When the capital's S, it is followed by a T -- and it's probably me
And the tones are grouped in clusters
You know, the tones are grouped in clusters
Well the tones are grouped in clusters
You know the tones are grouped in clusters, clusters, clusters, clusters
Take it back -- kiss me into the past
Lately never gonna last
This house is a home and a home's where I belong
Where the feelings are warm and the foundations are strong
If my soul has a shape, well, then it is an ellipse
And this slap is a gift
'Cause your cheeks have lost their lustre
You know, your cheeks have lost their lustre
You know, your cheeks have lost their lustre
You know, your cheeks have lost their lustre, lustre, lustre, lustre
Take it back -- send return out of time
Tape machine needs to be aligned
Aloha means goodbye, and also hello -- it's in how you inflect
Put the bark in the dog, and you've got a guardian
When the capital's S, it is followed by a T -- and it's probably me
And the tones are grouped in clusters
You know, the tones are grouped in clusters
Well the tones are grouped in clusters
You know the tones are grouped in clusters, clusters, clusters, clusters
Take it back -- kiss me into the past
Lately never gonna last
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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.
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This is the most meta and probably cockiest Pavement song. I think it's about writing a song. The first three lines reference the fans (welcome to friends), the music (foundation...could be bass and drums) and the transcendent power of good music (feelings are warm).
The elliptic soul refers to how the lyrics and music of a Pavement song will always come off skewed, unlike a full circle, which is easier to understand. One need only compare the bredth of lyrical depth and musical complexity on a Pavement album with the alternative crap on the radio when this song came out. An ellipse is often associated with altered perception and reflection. The "slap is a gift" is the cocky idea (but probably true) that Pavement revitalized rock n' roll (after all, rock's cheeks had lost its luster) by the hubbub it created in the indie rock world.
Tape machine line - refers to the recording process.
The Aloha and dog lines- refer to perception and self-awareness and does so in a typically ironic and ridiculous manner. More "meta" stuff that can be packed full with all types of meaning: Is Pavement closer to the beginning or end? What is the nature of a dog?
Some other posters have alluded to the capital "S" and "T" being Stephen Malkmus; and the "tones are grouped in clusters" is a musical concept whereby three consecutive chords are struck consecutively, creating a disonant sound. Then the guitar actually chimes in with the dissonance. It's like the lyrics work as a tour guide to the musical landscape of the song.
The last two lines reflect the attitudes of the fans, some of whom wanted the band to go back to the "Slanted" sound or the "Crooked Rain" sound. But repeating the past is not really an option.
Nailed it.<br /> <br /> Ahola = Pavement's lyrics having multiple meanings, not forgetting the hello/goodbye boiling down language into context and not taken on face value.<br /> Seems like a comment on Irony.