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.
Oil remove shred and tear radiation vapor
It's the fear so unclear man in motion going nowhere
In our homes stuck in the face spread the word to the populace
Yellow journal yellow journal set the pace feel the rage
Manifestations of a sort so insidious off the point
Simple solution never confusion sport a gun kill a cop
Crazy world of weary thought so receive me had enough
Lock me up lock me up
Rot and assimilate so hot to annihilate
Deviation tonic mess prolonged existence innocence
Is he who speaks isn't weak wheelchair virtue so to speak
Bubonic plague the truth of aids immunity avoid decay
In the trench of pestilence the bible screams announce your faith
Mutterings of death to bring suffocate a newborn thing
Degradation of an age venereal it's all sensation
Protect design the moral plan infallible as propaganda
Completely black with no steps back
Hot to assimilate we'll rot or annihilate
Agony profusely stains the inner thinking of the brain
Accusations clanking chains experiments with the groans of pain
All prefer no one blames the terror in an animal's screams
In cages our future, the answers insane
It's the fear so unclear man in motion going nowhere
In our homes stuck in the face spread the word to the populace
Yellow journal yellow journal set the pace feel the rage
Manifestations of a sort so insidious off the point
Simple solution never confusion sport a gun kill a cop
Crazy world of weary thought so receive me had enough
Lock me up lock me up
Rot and assimilate so hot to annihilate
Deviation tonic mess prolonged existence innocence
Is he who speaks isn't weak wheelchair virtue so to speak
Bubonic plague the truth of aids immunity avoid decay
In the trench of pestilence the bible screams announce your faith
Mutterings of death to bring suffocate a newborn thing
Degradation of an age venereal it's all sensation
Protect design the moral plan infallible as propaganda
Completely black with no steps back
Hot to assimilate we'll rot or annihilate
Agony profusely stains the inner thinking of the brain
Accusations clanking chains experiments with the groans of pain
All prefer no one blames the terror in an animal's screams
In cages our future, the answers insane
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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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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.
Blue
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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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
To me this song sounds like something you'ld hear to psyche up a crowd at a football game. Very intense music with forboding lyrics. Unlike others like "worlock" or "killing game", this song seems to encapsulate the the final stage of a declining society. Yeah, that can be said about alot of their songs, but the insensity is raw and unforgiving. Its as if the songwriter describes the final moments before a society crumbles back into primitive traits.