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.
Well, I had a dream the other night
You were in a bar in the corner on a chair
Wearing a long white leather coat
Purple glasses and glitter in your hair
And you said, "hey, this is where I'm gonna sit
And buy you a drink someday
Well, you were going to the dog shows
But you kinda lost your way
Now you said, "now I got all this room
And no money to decorate it"
So some local customer put me in touch with the man upstairs
But he said, "little man, you got no business gettin' frustrated
You gotta rest, you gotta rest, you gotta rest"
You gotta reach down and pick the crowd up
Oh, I wanna reach down and pick the crowd up
Carry back in my hand to the promised land
To the promised land
Ooh, I had an angel shine my wings
She said, "nothin' but the best for the golden boy
And she made me promise not to tell
I had her under a spell
Singin' golden words in a broken voice
Now I caught a blessing on the wind
I'm feelin' lighter than a breath from a dove
I got no hands to tie behind my back
And I'm sparkin' like a heart attack
And I got room to spread my wings
And my messages of love, yeah
Love was my drug
But that's not what I died of
So don't ya think of me
Cryin' louder than some billion dollar baby
Ooh, I wanna rest I wanna rest I wanna rest
I wanna reach down and pick the crowd up
I wanna reach down and pick the crowd up
Carry back in my hand to the promised land
To the promised land
To the promised land
Oh
Yeah, ooh, ooh
Yeah, I wanna reach down
Oh yeah, and pick the crowd up
(I wanna reach down) I wanna reach down
(And pick the crowd up) and pick the crowd up
(Carry back in my hand) hand
(To the promised land) to the promised land
(To the promised land) ooh, yeah
Ah, oh
You were in a bar in the corner on a chair
Wearing a long white leather coat
Purple glasses and glitter in your hair
And you said, "hey, this is where I'm gonna sit
And buy you a drink someday
Well, you were going to the dog shows
But you kinda lost your way
Now you said, "now I got all this room
And no money to decorate it"
So some local customer put me in touch with the man upstairs
But he said, "little man, you got no business gettin' frustrated
You gotta rest, you gotta rest, you gotta rest"
You gotta reach down and pick the crowd up
Oh, I wanna reach down and pick the crowd up
Carry back in my hand to the promised land
To the promised land
Ooh, I had an angel shine my wings
She said, "nothin' but the best for the golden boy
And she made me promise not to tell
I had her under a spell
Singin' golden words in a broken voice
Now I caught a blessing on the wind
I'm feelin' lighter than a breath from a dove
I got no hands to tie behind my back
And I'm sparkin' like a heart attack
And I got room to spread my wings
And my messages of love, yeah
Love was my drug
But that's not what I died of
So don't ya think of me
Cryin' louder than some billion dollar baby
Ooh, I wanna rest I wanna rest I wanna rest
I wanna reach down and pick the crowd up
I wanna reach down and pick the crowd up
Carry back in my hand to the promised land
To the promised land
To the promised land
Oh
Yeah, ooh, ooh
Yeah, I wanna reach down
Oh yeah, and pick the crowd up
(I wanna reach down) I wanna reach down
(And pick the crowd up) and pick the crowd up
(Carry back in my hand) hand
(To the promised land) to the promised land
(To the promised land) ooh, yeah
Ah, oh
Lyrics submitted by fadel, edited by silentthriller
Reach Down Lyrics as written by Chris Cornell
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
One of the greatest pieces ever... a song about powerfull positive energy.. Though the lyrics are not completely the same as the recorded song.. It is quite obvious what the song is about, what Andrew Wood did with his music and fans "pick the crowd up and carry in [his] hands to the promised land". This songs does it everytime to me :D