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.
You like a man with a future
You like a woman with a past
"Well, do you really believe that?"
She said to the faces in the crowd
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else
And even if you did miss me
You never let me know
You'd prefer to be just a little bit
In and out of love with me
And not to scream and shout
You'd prefer to be just a little bit
In and out of agony
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Fascinated by somebody else
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else
Come on now, let the sad winds blow down
As the rain came, she refused to wear her coat
But deep in her heart she knew, that the song must go on
He says, "Well, I have forgotten you
And your beautiful eyes"
We were off the wall
We were mirrors of our former selves
Well, you could've said, "No"
You could've said, "Well, I just can't"
Whoa, we were off the wall
We were mirrors of each other
Passing by
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else
Well, I was your paper doll
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Paper doll
Well I was you paper doll
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Paper doll
And it doesn't even matter
(I was fascinated by somebody else)
It was a real clear answer
(I was fascinated by somebody else)
Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else
(I was fascinated by somebody else)
Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else
You like a woman with a past
"Well, do you really believe that?"
She said to the faces in the crowd
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else
And even if you did miss me
You never let me know
You'd prefer to be just a little bit
In and out of love with me
And not to scream and shout
You'd prefer to be just a little bit
In and out of agony
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Fascinated by somebody else
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else
Come on now, let the sad winds blow down
As the rain came, she refused to wear her coat
But deep in her heart she knew, that the song must go on
He says, "Well, I have forgotten you
And your beautiful eyes"
We were off the wall
We were mirrors of our former selves
Well, you could've said, "No"
You could've said, "Well, I just can't"
Whoa, we were off the wall
We were mirrors of each other
Passing by
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else
Well, I was your paper doll
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Paper doll
Well I was you paper doll
(Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else)
Paper doll
And it doesn't even matter
(I was fascinated by somebody else)
It was a real clear answer
(I was fascinated by somebody else)
Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else
(I was fascinated by somebody else)
Yesterday I was fascinated by somebody else
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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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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
No Surprises
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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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Hmm - this song sound like it is about a couple who are fuck buddies. She comes back to him on and off again, and he prefers it to be that way. And she feels like a paper doll - someone who is being manipulated by him to be the fuck buddy he wants her to be because he doesn't want to commit to anything, as in:
"And even if you did miss me You never let me know You prefer to be just a little bit In and out of love with me And not to scream and shout You prefer to be just a little bit In and out of agony"
That's my take on it. Good song though, it took me a while to like it.
You see, I think it sounds like sarcasm coming from a broken heart. I also think it exposes Lindsey to some degree, kinda like, "it takes two to argue even if you do not yell or scream, you come back for more as well (you liked it)" "oh you missed me, hmmm I never heard from you" Actually, if you have ever given your heart to someone who is like this, you end up feeling crazy, I think that is expressed here through the jovial almost festival like music. It took me a while to like this song as well, I didnt like the country music feel but after listening to the lyrics and getting the feeling of Mardigras with what I perceive as a sarcastic, broken hearted person who is frustrated trying to change her lover, well lets just say I get it and LOVE this song. Thank you Stevie.
I love this song. Especially that first line . " You like a man with a future ,you like a woman with a past. " Lol. Brilliant