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.
Here she comes again
With vodka in her veins
Been playing with a spike
She couldn't get it right
Splendor in silver dress
Velocity possessed
The world was hers and then
It fell apart again
I don't need anyone to hurt me
No, not anyone at all
Because my so-called friends have left me
And now I don't care at all
Leave me alone
Leave me alone
Leave me alone
With vodka in her veins
Been playing with a spike
She couldn't get it right
Splendor in silver dress
Velocity possessed
The world was hers and then
It fell apart again
I don't need anyone to hurt me
No, not anyone at all
Because my so-called friends have left me
And now I don't care at all
Leave me alone
Leave me alone
Leave me alone
Lyrics submitted by BlakeQHatfield, edited by echolot
Velocity Girl Lyrics as written by Bobby Gillespie
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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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,
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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.
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One would assume that this is about intravenous amphetamine use. Velocity= speed, 'playing with a spike'?
I Think the velocity part has to do with her being high in any sense of the word, feeling great for those few moments "the world was hers again" and of course it fell apart again. Lyrically its one of my favorite songs of all time
WOW. just love this song!
It is a truly amazing song... And by a truly amazing band =)
druggie (ex)girlfriend
haha i love this song
It should be 'Been playing with a spike'
Then, the chorus is 'I don't need anyone to HELP me'
This song was written about 60s socialite, model and actress, Andy Warhol's 'Superstar' Edie Sedgwick.
'With vodka in her veins Peen playing with a spike'
Edie was always holding a drink and a cigarrette in her hands, and she was addicted to speed, these lines refer to her lifestyle.
'Splendour in silver dress'
She had silver hair and she often wore silver dresses. (see picure: xojane.com/files/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_full_width/field_image_attachments/article/tumblrlxmdc4lt291qdnypy.png)
'The world was hers again It fell apart again'
It may mean her very short life, where she once one of the most famous socialites in New York, the Girl of the Year in 1965, but before her golden years she suffered incredibly due to her family and other reasons. After the short period of being part of Warhol's 'Factory', her 'world fell apart again'.
'I don't need anyone to hurt me No, not anyone at all `Cause my so-called friends have left me'
I think it is about her complicated relationship with Warhol. Edie gace almost all of her money for Warhol to support his career, but after they made several underground movies together, Warhol didn't give her any money from the movies after they were released. Warhol then ignored Sedgwick and Edie decided to leave the Factory, 'cause my so-called friends have left me' may refer to this. (Though it was her who left him and not he left her).
Excellent music and lyrics from the early period of Primal Scream.