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.
Caught a lite sneeze caught a lite breeze
Caught a lightweight lightningseed
Boys on my left side
Boys on my right side
Boys in the middle
And you're not here I need a big loan
From the girl zone
Building
Tumbling down
Didn't know our love was so small
Couldn't stand at all
Mr St. John just bring your son
The spire is hot
And my cells can't feed
And you still got that Belle dragging your foots
I'm hiding it well Sister Ernestine
But I still got that Belle
Dragging my foots
Right on time you get closer
And closer
Called my name but there's no way in
Use that fame
Rent your wife and kids today
Maybe she will
Maybe she will caught a lite sneeze
Dreamed a little dream
Made my own pretty hate machine
Boys on my left side
Boys on my right side
Boys in the middle and you're not here
Boys in their dresses
And you're not here
I need a big loan from the girl zone
Caught a lightweight lightningseed
Boys on my left side
Boys on my right side
Boys in the middle
And you're not here I need a big loan
From the girl zone
Building
Tumbling down
Didn't know our love was so small
Couldn't stand at all
Mr St. John just bring your son
The spire is hot
And my cells can't feed
And you still got that Belle dragging your foots
I'm hiding it well Sister Ernestine
But I still got that Belle
Dragging my foots
Right on time you get closer
And closer
Called my name but there's no way in
Use that fame
Rent your wife and kids today
Maybe she will
Maybe she will caught a lite sneeze
Dreamed a little dream
Made my own pretty hate machine
Boys on my left side
Boys on my right side
Boys in the middle and you're not here
Boys in their dresses
And you're not here
I need a big loan from the girl zone
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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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
"Caught A Lite Sneeze is about wanting to do anything to keep a relationship going, knowing that it's over, knowing that it's slipping through the hands."
"Honey, it means no fat, no butter. Lite"
"He was a lite sneeze, and not the flu. Guys would like to think they're the flu, but sometimes they're just a 'h'achoo'"