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.
Come a little bit closer
Hear what I have to say
Just like children sleepin'
We could dream this night away
But there's a full moon risin'
Let's go dancin' in the light
We know where the music's playin'
Let's go out and feel the night
Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon
When we were strangers
I watched you from afar
When we were lovers
I loved you with all my heart
But now it's gettin' late
And the moon is climbin' high
I want to celebrate
See it shinin' in your eye
Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon
Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon
Hear what I have to say
Just like children sleepin'
We could dream this night away
But there's a full moon risin'
Let's go dancin' in the light
We know where the music's playin'
Let's go out and feel the night
Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon
When we were strangers
I watched you from afar
When we were lovers
I loved you with all my heart
But now it's gettin' late
And the moon is climbin' high
I want to celebrate
See it shinin' in your eye
Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon
Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon
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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.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
I think TheSilverNoble is right when he says that the song is about two individuals who used to be lovers but kept in contact and are now experiencing a Harvest Moon together. The line "When we were lovers, I loved you with all my heart" says it all.
You can remain in contact with a lover even though you both have gone your own ways. That love changes from when you were both actually living together and expressing that love with each other but just because you are no longer together does not mean that love is dead. It continues on and a bond can remain for your whole lives.
This song is about when your paths now cross again and the memories of your love together rises to the current moment. They are dancing under the Harvest moon knowing that when the moment passes they will still go in separate directions, either that evening or the next morning but when they do part that love between them will still be tucked away in their soul's back pocket.
My wife LOVES to dance to this tune... and I have to admit I do too. We've been married 23 years, and I think it's become OUR song. The sound is so INCREDIBLE, the lyric is so honest and simple... it exudes ROMANCE. Definitely one of Neil's best!
@RayMan Go see 'A Quiet Place', theres a scene thats going to steal your heart.
What makes the song heartbreakingly beautiful is his desire to "dance in the light"...what little light they have left. Moonlight is not as bright as the fire of the sun (i.e.,the fires of passionate love, the fires of youth) but it reflect the sun's light back to us when we are in darkness; even if it can't warm us, it reminds us the sun once shined.
And there is definitely the melancholy of missing someone, even if you still sleep in the same bed with them. With "I want to see you dance again" he is saying it has been too long since she danced, smiled, or enjoyed being alive. He wants her to be happy again, as happy and carefree as they were years ago. If he just wanted to watch her and adore her grace and beauty one last time the words would be "I want to see you dance once more" or "some more."
@tippetchka "It reminds us the sun once shined" Damn, bro, where'd you feel this?
@tippetchka it is tragic when a couple drifts apart, I felt what you mentioned, sharing the same bed but longing to see her smile again as in old times. we have seperated now, but I still long to see her happy..this song gives me that strength
First came across this song in the early 90's when my now wife had first got together. Our 13th year to together hit an all time low with us very nearly splitting up. I was looking through CD's which have and came across this track again, the lyrics seem so right about how i feel for my wife now and with with 3 lovely children and 1 great stepson our 14th year looks to be the best yet. This song is for you Mary x
I agree with the above comment by lazyesq. "When we were lovers, I loved you with all my heart" clarifies that the relationship is in the past.
This song is not about a marriage or couple, but rather an all-consuming (perhaps unrequited) love that still exists. I believe the harvest moon parallels a calendar year to the seasons of life...suggesting that his life is soon ending. He is reflecting upon this intense love that he still feels in his older years for a person he wishes to be with again, even if briefly for a single evening/dance.
Another line: "Just like children sleepin', We could dream this night away" is also being interpreted too literally. I feel that this just also correlates to the fact that years have passed between their being together, and he wants their reuniting to be wondrous, ethereal - such like childlike dreams.
I understand this song as a deep love that will always exist, though the two involved were separated and probably always will be. I do not think the separation is particularly desired by either party.
Out of all the interpretations I've read here, yours, to me, is spot on. It sounds like they were once lovers (probably high school), separated for whatever reason (we were silly kids back then and did silly things with regrets, especially thinking you are too young to fall in love and have it last), but he is still in love with her... but for also whatever reason (current marriage, distance, death), it sounds like he can't be with her but would love to have just "one more dance", to feel her close, to feel again the love they once had that he misses so much, while under the glow of a full moon. Maybe the Harvest Moon reference is as simple as their first date, their first kiss, when they first fell in love, or when they first made love... under the Harvest Moon. Such a beautiful song, but in a way, also so sad... .... ... I can so relate... ... ... sigh... ... ...<br /> <br />
this song speaks for itself... it just makes me feel all warm and nostalgic...very awesome song.
I love the sweetness and simplicity of this song...the soft sweeping of the broom in the background..the tenderness in Neil's voice. Neil Young is my husband's favorite singer, and as we were dating I learned more of Neil's songs. We picked this song as "our song". It was the first song we danced to at our wedding, and I must admit, three years into our marriage, the song still brings tears to my eyes when I hear it. Almost as if Neil wrote it for little ol' us. :o)
If you have never been in love before and want to know what it feels like, imagine yourself and that special person in the scene that Neil paints in this song, get the imagry in your head, and by god, it's the closest to the real thing.
I am ASTONISHED that this song has only TWO comments. This is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Ever. It deserves so much more recognition.
You never realize what these songs mean until you live them. The harder Neil you can kick ass to on the way to a bar...the softer Neil (Harvest Moon) can be TOTALLY appreciated when you're broken hearted.
It is all in context.