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.
All behold the spectacle
A fleshy limbless rectangle
Sitting on a pedestal
So nasal handicapable
Contortions that he can't recall
Sniff and remember silver ball
The torso on a trampoline
The happiness melts into dream
To talk is an enunciated sneeze
To tatse is some foul air to breathe
One thought, it lasts a day
And at that rate - he'll most likely live forever!!!!!!!!!!
He's a bird in flight, a hermaphrodite
And he fucks himself as he fucks the world
His twitching brain can dance within
A secret means of ecstasy
Gyrating more like gelatin
Acute and very olfactory
To see is colors crawling in the nose
To hear is stinking highs and lows
He's got an itch, but nothing with which
To scratch the itch - so wish it away
With his mouth sewn shut, he still shakes his butt
'cause he's Hitler & Swayze & Trump & Travolta
Smell. Sweat. Movement.
Disco.
Everyone's dancing.
Dimple.
Fading. Darker.
A subtle fragrance.
Faint.
Everyone's dancing without him.
Where did it go?
Dark.
Odorless.
Nothing
A fleshy limbless rectangle
Sitting on a pedestal
So nasal handicapable
Contortions that he can't recall
Sniff and remember silver ball
The torso on a trampoline
The happiness melts into dream
To talk is an enunciated sneeze
To tatse is some foul air to breathe
One thought, it lasts a day
And at that rate - he'll most likely live forever!!!!!!!!!!
He's a bird in flight, a hermaphrodite
And he fucks himself as he fucks the world
His twitching brain can dance within
A secret means of ecstasy
Gyrating more like gelatin
Acute and very olfactory
To see is colors crawling in the nose
To hear is stinking highs and lows
He's got an itch, but nothing with which
To scratch the itch - so wish it away
With his mouth sewn shut, he still shakes his butt
'cause he's Hitler & Swayze & Trump & Travolta
Smell. Sweat. Movement.
Disco.
Everyone's dancing.
Dimple.
Fading. Darker.
A subtle fragrance.
Faint.
Everyone's dancing without him.
Where did it go?
Dark.
Odorless.
Nothing
Lyrics submitted by Fear_Of_Mole_Rats
Quote Unquote Lyrics as written by Daniel Heifetz Clinton Mckinnon
Lyrics © Exploration Group LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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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,
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I agree, Their music is a total mindfuck thats extremely enjoyable