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.
This may be the last thing that I write for long
Can you hear me smiling when I sing this song
For you and only you
As I leave will you be someone to say good-bye
As I leave will you be someone to wipe your eye
My foot is out the door
And you can't stop me now
You wanted the best, it wasn't me
Will you give it back
Now I'll take the lead
When there's no more room to make it grow
I'll see you again, you'll pretend you're naive
Is this what you want
Is this what you need
How you end up let me know
As I go, remember all the simple things you know
My mind is just a crutch and I still hope
That you will miss me when I'm gone
This is the last song
The hearts start breaking as the year is gone
The dream's beginning and the time rolls on
It seems so surreal, now I sing it
Somehow I knew that it would be this way
Somehow I knew that it would slowly fade
Now I am gone, just try and stop me now
You wanted the best, it wasn't me
Will you give it back
Now I'll take the lead
When there's no more room to make it grow
I'll see you again, you'll pretend you're naive
Is this what you want
Is this what you need
How you end up let me know
As I go, remember all the simple things you know
My mind is just a crutch and I still hope
That you will miss me when I'm gone
This is the last song
Will you need me now, you'll find a way somehow
You want it too, I want it too
As I go, remember all the simple things you know
My mind is just a crutch and I still hope
That you will miss me when I'm gone
Last song
As I go, remember all the simple things you know
My mind is just a crutch and I still hope
That you will miss me when I'm gone
This is the last song
Can you hear me smiling when I sing this song
For you and only you
As I leave will you be someone to say good-bye
As I leave will you be someone to wipe your eye
My foot is out the door
And you can't stop me now
You wanted the best, it wasn't me
Will you give it back
Now I'll take the lead
When there's no more room to make it grow
I'll see you again, you'll pretend you're naive
Is this what you want
Is this what you need
How you end up let me know
As I go, remember all the simple things you know
My mind is just a crutch and I still hope
That you will miss me when I'm gone
This is the last song
The hearts start breaking as the year is gone
The dream's beginning and the time rolls on
It seems so surreal, now I sing it
Somehow I knew that it would be this way
Somehow I knew that it would slowly fade
Now I am gone, just try and stop me now
You wanted the best, it wasn't me
Will you give it back
Now I'll take the lead
When there's no more room to make it grow
I'll see you again, you'll pretend you're naive
Is this what you want
Is this what you need
How you end up let me know
As I go, remember all the simple things you know
My mind is just a crutch and I still hope
That you will miss me when I'm gone
This is the last song
Will you need me now, you'll find a way somehow
You want it too, I want it too
As I go, remember all the simple things you know
My mind is just a crutch and I still hope
That you will miss me when I'm gone
Last song
As I go, remember all the simple things you know
My mind is just a crutch and I still hope
That you will miss me when I'm gone
This is the last song
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Light Up The Sky
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Fast Car
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"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.
Dreamwalker
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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.
Blue
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Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Funny how we need a 'corrected' version of a song that has the exact lyrics in the cd case...