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 you people can feel it waiting
Innocence and love, wrapped in the arms
Of the burning neon
I feel it, I feel it
It's so entertaining and so wonderful
It magically calls for you
Big neon crossing
And show me the way
Big neon crossing
Save my soul today
Don't you worry and don't be afraid
Does it send you to the world appealing
Where there is spoken word that I can't take
So I'm the liar, I'm the liar
You're so disappointed
To find out that the magic was not
Really meant for you
Big neon crossing
And show me the way
Big neon crossing
Save my soul today
Call the liar
Call the liar
Call the liar
Call the liar
Oh, I can wait
I can be a liar, liar
And I can wait
And I can be the liar, liar, liar
Oh, the liar, liar
Big neon crossing
And show me the way
Big neon crossing
Save my soul today
Big neon crossing
And show me the way
Big neon crossing, oh
And save my soul
Innocence and love, wrapped in the arms
Of the burning neon
I feel it, I feel it
It's so entertaining and so wonderful
It magically calls for you
Big neon crossing
And show me the way
Big neon crossing
Save my soul today
Don't you worry and don't be afraid
Does it send you to the world appealing
Where there is spoken word that I can't take
So I'm the liar, I'm the liar
You're so disappointed
To find out that the magic was not
Really meant for you
Big neon crossing
And show me the way
Big neon crossing
Save my soul today
Call the liar
Call the liar
Call the liar
Call the liar
Oh, I can wait
I can be a liar, liar
And I can wait
And I can be the liar, liar, liar
Oh, the liar, liar
Big neon crossing
And show me the way
Big neon crossing
Save my soul today
Big neon crossing
And show me the way
Big neon crossing, oh
And save my soul
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I'm shocked that no one has replied to this in over 2 years. It's one of my favorite songs off Naveed.
I just wanted to be one of the only guys to comment by this song.
Would You Laugh if i told you this is my favorite song, cause it is, geez only two people. People should listen to this song, cause its the best
To me, this is a song about organized religion. Specifically Christianity (big neon crossing), but perhaps just religion in general.
'It's so entertaining and so wonderful, it magically calls for you and you...'
It's like this guy has rediscovered God, and it's just this irresistable pull that drives him, and everyone is welcoming him.
'Saved my soul today.'
The guy feels revived- his soul is saved now, and God seems to have all the answers for what ails him.
'Where there is the spoken word that I can't take, so I'm the liar, I'm the liar.'
The guy realizes he doesn't like something about this church. Perhaps it's the sermons he disagrees with, but he doesn't like it, and begins to talk about it. People are shocked, and trying to shame him- he's the liar because he disagrees with the church.
'You're so disappointed to find out that the magic was not really meant for you.'
The guy finds his illusion falling, and he becomes disenchanted with the church, and possibly even with God, and returns back to his old, athiestic/agnostic ways.
It can be put into a general formula- person gets really hyped on something, finds there is an aspect that is not kosher, and rejects it returning to what they were before.
I've read somewhere that it was indeed about organized religion. Raine likes to target religion in about 1/2 of his earlier work (Spiritual Machines and before). Not to say he isn't spiritual though. But he doesn't believe in the concept of organizing it,
I'm listening to this song right now. Brilliance.
I'm listening to this song right now. Brilliance.
I agree with biggreenmonkey. It really does seem to be about organized religion. However, for the longest time I always thought of "neon crossing" being as a sign for a bar. Any sort of sign with neon basically, like a bar or a casino. And the line "save my soul today" where the person goes to a bar to drink as a way to escape, or to a casino to gamble and have some fun. I see how stupid that is now though :P Anyways, this is a great song and one of the best off of Naveed