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.
When there was darkness and the void was king and ruled the elements
When there was silence and the hush was almost deafening
Out of the emptiness, Salvation! (Salvation!)
Rhythm and light and sound
It 'twas the Rock 'n' Roll creation
It 'twas a terrible big bang
It 'twas the ultimate mutation
Ying was searching for his yang
And he looked and he saw that it was good
When I'm alone beneath the stars and feeling insignificant
I turn within to see the forces that created me
I look to the stars and the answer is clear
I look in the mirror and see what I fear
It 'tis the Rock 'n' Roll creation
It 'tis the absolute rebirth
It 'tis the rolling of the ocean
And the rocking of the earth
And I looked and I saw that it was good
When there was silence and the hush was almost deafening
Out of the emptiness, Salvation! (Salvation!)
Rhythm and light and sound
It 'twas the Rock 'n' Roll creation
It 'twas a terrible big bang
It 'twas the ultimate mutation
Ying was searching for his yang
And he looked and he saw that it was good
When I'm alone beneath the stars and feeling insignificant
I turn within to see the forces that created me
I look to the stars and the answer is clear
I look in the mirror and see what I fear
It 'tis the Rock 'n' Roll creation
It 'tis the absolute rebirth
It 'tis the rolling of the ocean
And the rocking of the earth
And I looked and I saw that it was good
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"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.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Rhythm and light and sound! Fuck, this song rules.
yea, cleverer than people first perceive.
WOOP SPINAL TAP!!! they're quite the best cock rock band ever. No offence. they seriously rock innit
Indeed, huzzah for Spinal Tap!
I believe the song is a parody of occultic songs (along with its sister, "Stonehenge") and also elaborate stage set-ups often associated with glam rock. I dunno, the alien-seedpod...thingies remind me of Pink Floyd concerts and the expensive sets.
In the movie itself, the concert footage makes fun of how these elaborate sets often malfunction and of roadies trying in futile to fix them. As anyone who has seen the movie knows, the bassist (character name escapes me) has his seedpod malfunction so it doesn't open at the beginning of the song, and while a roadie trys the whole song to fix it, Chris and Nigel play on, trying to ignore the technical difficulty. The futility of the efforts become apparent especially at the end, where the bassist actually escapes his plastic prison, only to need to try to dive back in to keep up with the remainder of the band who have descended back into their pods. At this point, the pod malfunctions again, closing on the bassist's arm. Again, the problem is ignored by the band for the audience's sake, where everyone onstage, including the semi-imprisoned bassist, give the ,\,,\ sign.