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.
Your time has already come and I don't know why
The last thing that I had heard
You were doin' just fine
It seems like just yesterday
I was laughing with you
Playing games at Grandma's house
Well you taught me well, didn't you?
I hope I'm just like you
Do they have radios in heaven?
I hope they do
'Cause they're playing my song on the radio
And I'm singing it to you
You left before I had a chance to say goodbye
But that's the way life usually is
It just passes you by
But you can't hold on to regrets and you can't look back
So I'll just be thankful for the times that I had with you
I hope I'm just like you
Do they have radios in heaven?
I hope they do
'Cause they're playing my song on the radio
And I'm singing it to you
If they don't have radios in heaven
Here's what I'll do
I can bring my guitar when my time is up and I'll play it for you
Tell me can you hear me now
If not, then I can try to sing real loud
What's it like up on the other side of the clouds?
I hope I'm just like you
I hope I turn out to be as good as you
The last thing that I had heard
You were doin' just fine
It seems like just yesterday
I was laughing with you
Playing games at Grandma's house
Well you taught me well, didn't you?
I hope I'm just like you
Do they have radios in heaven?
I hope they do
'Cause they're playing my song on the radio
And I'm singing it to you
You left before I had a chance to say goodbye
But that's the way life usually is
It just passes you by
But you can't hold on to regrets and you can't look back
So I'll just be thankful for the times that I had with you
I hope I'm just like you
Do they have radios in heaven?
I hope they do
'Cause they're playing my song on the radio
And I'm singing it to you
If they don't have radios in heaven
Here's what I'll do
I can bring my guitar when my time is up and I'll play it for you
Tell me can you hear me now
If not, then I can try to sing real loud
What's it like up on the other side of the clouds?
I hope I'm just like you
I hope I turn out to be as good as you
Lyrics submitted by music_lover
Radios in Heaven Lyrics as written by Tom Higgenson
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"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.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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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.
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
An amazing song, especially meaningful if you have recently lost a loved one.
This song is truly amazing. Its got such emotion to it.. I relate to it completely dealing with my dad gone.. :( great song. really good! RIP daddy!
The lines "if they don't have radios in heaven/ here's what I'll do/ I'll bring my guitar/ when my time is up/ and I'll play for you" are some of the most heart-breaking lines I've heard recently. It's amazing that such young people can come up with such good lyrics. I can't wait to see them again later this week.
A friend of mine sent me their CD and it was just amazing. In one week I've gotten every member of my family (tastes ranging from nirvana to the beatles to avril shudder to dmx and king crimson) hooked on it. I agree with bigfatqueer, those lines just made me.. yeah. I was trying to figure out who it's about, I don't know much about the band yet but it sounds as though he's singing about his father. Either way, it's a great song and they're a great band.
"I can bring my guitar when my time is up//and I'll play for you//tell me can you hear me now//if not, then I can try to sing real loud" Those lines are so touching..this iss an incredible song with so much emotion put into it.
great song, great band... keep up the good work guys :)
For whoever wants to know, this song was written about a close friend of theirs who died, possibly by suicide. when i saw them about a year ago it was the birthday of the friend this was written for, and when Tom (vocals) dedicated it to him, it was so touching. this is one great band.
omigod...this song is so sad! it has so much emotion put into it. Plain White Ts are amazing! Hey There Delilah is a great song too.
all of their songs are awesome... i
wow this song has been around longer than i thought, too bad i never heard it before. this song is deffinatly amazing. i love it. they are a great band.