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.
A boy like that who'd kill your brother
Forget that boy and find another
One of your own kind
Stick to your own kind!
A boy like that will give you sorrow
You'll meet another boy tomorrow
One of your own kind
Stick to your own kind!
A boy who kills cannot love
A boy who kills has no heart
And he's the boy who gets your love
And gets your heart
Very smart, Maria, very smart!
A boy like that wants one thing only
And when he's done, he'll leave you lonely
He'll murder your love
He murdered mine
Just wait and see
Just wait, Maria
Just wait and see!
Oh no, Anita, no, Anita, no!
It isn't true, not for me
It's true for you, not for me
I hear your words and in my head
I know they're smart
But my heart, Anita, but my heart
A boy like that who'd kill your brother (Knows they're wrong)
Forget that boy and find another (and my heart is too strong)
One of your own kind (for I belong)
Stick to your own kind! (to him alone, to him alone)
One thing I know I am his
A boy who kills cannot love (I don't care what he is)
A boy who kills has no heart
And he's the boy who gets your love (I don't know why it's so) and gets your heart
Very smart, Maria, very smart!
Oh no, Anita, no, you should know better!
You were in love or so you said
You should know better
I have a love, and it's all that I have
Right or wrong, what else can I do?
I love him, I'm his, and everything he is
I am, too
I have a love, and it's all that I need
Right or wrong, and he needs me, too
I love him, we're one
There's nothing to be done
Not a thing I can do
But hold him, hold him forever
Be with him now, tomorrow
And all of my life!
When love comes so strong
There is no right or wrong
Your love is your life
Forget that boy and find another
One of your own kind
Stick to your own kind!
A boy like that will give you sorrow
You'll meet another boy tomorrow
One of your own kind
Stick to your own kind!
A boy who kills cannot love
A boy who kills has no heart
And he's the boy who gets your love
And gets your heart
Very smart, Maria, very smart!
A boy like that wants one thing only
And when he's done, he'll leave you lonely
He'll murder your love
He murdered mine
Just wait and see
Just wait, Maria
Just wait and see!
Oh no, Anita, no, Anita, no!
It isn't true, not for me
It's true for you, not for me
I hear your words and in my head
I know they're smart
But my heart, Anita, but my heart
A boy like that who'd kill your brother (Knows they're wrong)
Forget that boy and find another (and my heart is too strong)
One of your own kind (for I belong)
Stick to your own kind! (to him alone, to him alone)
One thing I know I am his
A boy who kills cannot love (I don't care what he is)
A boy who kills has no heart
And he's the boy who gets your love (I don't know why it's so) and gets your heart
Very smart, Maria, very smart!
Oh no, Anita, no, you should know better!
You were in love or so you said
You should know better
I have a love, and it's all that I have
Right or wrong, what else can I do?
I love him, I'm his, and everything he is
I am, too
I have a love, and it's all that I need
Right or wrong, and he needs me, too
I love him, we're one
There's nothing to be done
Not a thing I can do
But hold him, hold him forever
Be with him now, tomorrow
And all of my life!
When love comes so strong
There is no right or wrong
Your love is your life
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Magical
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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.
i love anita's part. it's crazy catchy and amazingly awesome. i love sonhiem!