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.
People try to put us d-down (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we get around (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I hope I die before I get old (talkin' 'bout my generation)
This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
Why don't you all f-fade away (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Don't try to dig what we all s-s-s-say (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm not trying to 'cause a big s-s-sensation (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-g-generation (talkin' 'bout my generation)
My generation
This is my generation, baby
Why don't you all f-fade away (talkin' 'bout my generation)
And don't try to d-dig what we all s-s-say (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm not trying to 'cause a b-big s-s-sensation (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-generation (talkin' 'bout my generation)
This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
My my my generation
People try to put us d-down (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we g-g-get around (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Yeah, I hope I die before I get old (talkin' 'bout my generation)
This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
My my my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation)
(Talkin' 'bout my generation)
(Talkin' 'bout my generation)
(Talkin' 'bout my generation)
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
Just because we get around (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I hope I die before I get old (talkin' 'bout my generation)
This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
Why don't you all f-fade away (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Don't try to dig what we all s-s-s-say (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm not trying to 'cause a big s-s-sensation (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-g-generation (talkin' 'bout my generation)
My generation
This is my generation, baby
Why don't you all f-fade away (talkin' 'bout my generation)
And don't try to d-dig what we all s-s-say (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm not trying to 'cause a b-big s-s-sensation (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-generation (talkin' 'bout my generation)
This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
My my my generation
People try to put us d-down (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we g-g-get around (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Yeah, I hope I die before I get old (talkin' 'bout my generation)
This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
My my my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation)
(Talkin' 'bout my generation)
(Talkin' 'bout my generation)
(Talkin' 'bout my generation)
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
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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.
Holiday
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
I read in ROLLING STONE that the stuttering is meant to sound like the mods, who were all on amphetamines. It is not making fun of them. The song is saying that older people should not judge the youth according to their outdated standards, but let them live how they want to.
Forgetting all that shit about the stuttering....
The REST of the song is about how Pete is scorning the older generation, because he was driving in a new car he bought and an older woman drove up next to him and said "Driving Mummy's car now are we?"
It pissed him off so he wrote this song. Kind of saying that just because they're young doesn't mean they can't provide for themselves, and that the older generation sucks ass.
<b>I think the stutters are supposed to mean the kids are not being able to say what they really want to say... They get very angry but calm down just for the sake of being able to say how they feel. Note most of the stutters sounds like they're going to say a foul word:
"Things they do look awful c-c-cold" = Things they do look awful crap. "Why don't you all fff-fade away" = Why don't you all fuck off. "I'm not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation" = I'm not trying to cause a big stir.
Well that is just my guess. </b>
i was told the stutter was put in there because roger used to have a stutter. this was one of the first songs they wrote, when roger still had a stutter, and they thought it sounded cool on this song, so they left it in...i'm probably wrong tho
best bass EVER john entwistle is the best ever.
die hilary duff... die... i also read that she (er, not her, some big person who does her thinking for her) changed the words to "hope i don't die before i get old." let's not offend people now.
Kewl song about youth anxst and rebellion. Like the earlier version of "Teen Spirit"
many bands have covored this song but no1s will be as good as the original
what the hell. i think shauncreany needs to lay off the pills himself
And thus the old fogey have the right to think the civilization is stepping ever closer to the grave. That seems to be a universal theme in the perpetual war beteen young and old. The young think the old fogeys are keeping them back and vice versa. Both sides think the other is dangling society as a whole over the void. We all fall down and become no more. By and large, both sides believe mental madness reigns. While My Generation speaks about the angst of the youth, Mama's Little Helper by the Stones speaks about the angst of the mother and her need for Prozac or whatever antidepressant she is on. The mother is a representation of the old and everybody is driving her nucking futs. The 1960's was probably the key battleground who was going to destroy us faster. It has been repeated in every subsequent decade since then, reaching a head in the 90's and it has yet to really manifest itself once more. I could be ranting nonsensically but that is what I think about the subject.
@OpinionHead Valium.
@OpinionHead Howdo, it was valium, now called diazepan that was Mother's Little Helper. In the song Mick sings about a little yellow pill but now it's the blue 10 mg one that everyone thinks about, I mean there are 5s and 2s but it's much easier to just quickly swallow 5 or 10 blues rather than 25 or 50 itty bitty Jack & Jill's. Just saying. <br /> I'd love to have a go at driving one of them old futs, even if it wasn't still nucking. They just don't make motors like they used to.
omg, i read in the paper that hilary duff did this song, its an insult to such a great song! i couldent believe it. yeah this song does have an excellant bass solo, and also with the stuttering, i heard it was an accident when they practiced it and they decided to keep it.
@who_rock Of the handful of explanations I've read re <br /> the case of "Who said to put that famous stutter in the first Who Anthem, anyway"? I wonder if, before they released it, if any one of The Who members; Pete in particular, if they were able to project how powerful, important, impactful, and beautiful "My Generation" would become to their generation (plus the generations that have followed)? I gotta believe that when their work on 'MG' was finalized in the studio and they could playback their creation - they knew they had made more than a hit..I wonder what was going through their minds and bodies (something only a performance artist can experience; I get it; and they deserve lotza huge accolades!) Anyway, my wager is definitely on @who_rock; you, sir gave the answer that most sounds like The Who; they got lucky in the important moments, didn't they? To 'stumble' upon a 'blah-blah'; which happened to be exactly what they needed at that very moment? And, wink-wink, I'm sure it didn't have anything to do with their strong dedication and discipline to their craft! Yes, they are a very disciplined band!). They earned every penny and applause, they did! <br /> I think I Did see a very quick slice of film that was obviously a studio where Roger was stuttering into the mic and then ya hear someone off-camera saying exactly what @who_rock said he heard.....and so it goes.