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.
In pitch dark
I go walking in your landscape
Broken branches
Trip me as I speak
Just 'cause you feel it
Doesn't mean it's there
Just 'cause you feel it
Doesn't mean it's there
There's always a siren
Singing you to shipwreck
(Don't reach out, don't reach out)
(Don't reach out, don't reach out)
Steer away from these rocks
We'd be a walking disaster
(Don't reach out, don't reach out)
(Don't reach out, don't reach out)
Just 'cause you feel it
Doesn't mean it's there
(Someone on your shoulder)
(Someone on your shoulder)
Just 'cause you feel it
Doesn't mean it's there
(Someone on your shoulder)
(Someone on your shoulder)
There there
Why so green and lonely?
And lonely, and lonely?
Heaven sent you to me
To me, to me?
We are accidents waiting
Waiting to happen
We are accidents waiting
Waiting to happen
I go walking in your landscape
Broken branches
Trip me as I speak
Just 'cause you feel it
Doesn't mean it's there
Just 'cause you feel it
Doesn't mean it's there
There's always a siren
Singing you to shipwreck
(Don't reach out, don't reach out)
(Don't reach out, don't reach out)
Steer away from these rocks
We'd be a walking disaster
(Don't reach out, don't reach out)
(Don't reach out, don't reach out)
Just 'cause you feel it
Doesn't mean it's there
(Someone on your shoulder)
(Someone on your shoulder)
Just 'cause you feel it
Doesn't mean it's there
(Someone on your shoulder)
(Someone on your shoulder)
There there
Why so green and lonely?
And lonely, and lonely?
Heaven sent you to me
To me, to me?
We are accidents waiting
Waiting to happen
We are accidents waiting
Waiting to happen
Lyrics submitted by Mint Floss, edited by Fortunatus, thelink55
There, There Lyrics as written by Edward John O'brien Colin Charles Greenwood
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Great version of a great song,
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I think: "There There" (The Boney King of Nowhere) God = The Boney King of Nowhere There There = Thom Yorke's sympathy for the human race.
"In pitch dark, I go walking in you landscape"=
I trust you to guide me where I need to go.
"Broken branches trip me as I speak"=
you let me fall when I trusted you.
"Just cause it feels there, doesn't mean its there"=
god isn't there, he's just in your head.
It's possible: Thom Yorke has searched for god for a long time and could never seem to find him and now he just thinks god doesn't exist.
"There's always a siren, singing you to shipwreck"= Something calls to you and tells you this is the right way but when you get there you crash and fall.
"don't reach out" = don't even listen.
I think this song is done from a sympathetic and mournful point of view. The rest of the song is easy to figure out after the information I've supplied.
Draw your own conclusions, This is just my interpretation.
I hadn't quite put it in those terms, but I like your explanation a lot. Not least because I think such an amazing song must have some equally compelling inspiration- not just relationships or politics, but his understanding of life itself. Also, I love how the implications of the shift from quiet and mournful to triumphant rock'n'roll, once he's come to terms with the futility of his search for a god and such: "I'm all there is? OK, I'll have a good time as I am!"<br /> <br /> Or at least, that's my take.
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