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.
Sinner rider, rides in with the storm
The devil rides beside him
The devil is his God, God, help you mourn
Do you, do you hear it? Do you hear the thunder
Deafen every living thing about?
Can you, can you see it? Can you
See the mountains darken yonder?
Black sun rising, time is running out
Sacrifice to vice or die by the hand of the
Sinner
Sinner (is this obligation?)
Sinner
Sinner
His steed of fury
Eyes of fire and mane ablaze
Demonic vultures stalking
Drawn by the smell of war and pain
He roams the star ways
Searching for the carcasses of war
But if it's hungry then its very presence
Disrupts the calm into the storm
Curse and damn you all
You'll fall by the hand of the
Sinner
Sinner (desegregation)
Sinner
Sinner
(God of the) God of the Devils, God of the Devils
Won't you help them pray
(God of the Devils) God of the Devils
God of the Devils (God of the Devil)
Is there no other way?
Can't you hear their souls calling out in their plight
Can't you see their blood is boiling setting them alight
Thirty years now sleeping, so sound
(Sound, sound, sound, sound)
War raises its head, and looks slowly around
(Around, around, around, around)
The Sinner is near (near, near)
Sensing the fear (fear, fear)
And the beast will start movin' around (around)
Can't you see their souls calling out in their brain
Can't you hear their blood is boiling, setting them alight
Sinner, sinner, sinner, sinner
Sinner
Sinner
Sinner
Sinner
Sacrifice to vice or die by the hand of the curse
And damn you all, you'll fall by the hand of the sinner
The devil rides beside him
The devil is his God, God, help you mourn
Do you, do you hear it? Do you hear the thunder
Deafen every living thing about?
Can you, can you see it? Can you
See the mountains darken yonder?
Black sun rising, time is running out
Sacrifice to vice or die by the hand of the
Sinner
Sinner (is this obligation?)
Sinner
Sinner
His steed of fury
Eyes of fire and mane ablaze
Demonic vultures stalking
Drawn by the smell of war and pain
He roams the star ways
Searching for the carcasses of war
But if it's hungry then its very presence
Disrupts the calm into the storm
Curse and damn you all
You'll fall by the hand of the
Sinner
Sinner (desegregation)
Sinner
Sinner
(God of the) God of the Devils, God of the Devils
Won't you help them pray
(God of the Devils) God of the Devils
God of the Devils (God of the Devil)
Is there no other way?
Can't you hear their souls calling out in their plight
Can't you see their blood is boiling setting them alight
Thirty years now sleeping, so sound
(Sound, sound, sound, sound)
War raises its head, and looks slowly around
(Around, around, around, around)
The Sinner is near (near, near)
Sensing the fear (fear, fear)
And the beast will start movin' around (around)
Can't you see their souls calling out in their brain
Can't you hear their blood is boiling, setting them alight
Sinner, sinner, sinner, sinner
Sinner
Sinner
Sinner
Sinner
Sacrifice to vice or die by the hand of the curse
And damn you all, you'll fall by the hand of the sinner
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
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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.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
I guess there is quite a bit of evidence that the song is about Crowley. Because of the '70s style chugging rhythm I assumed the "Sinner" was a motorbike rider. I more or less a assumed he was character that Judas Priest created like "Exciter", "Steeler", "Painkiller" and others. Based on religious tradition of course.
Rob, like a lot of metal singers, sings as though he's warning everyone of some impending doom though at the same time you can hear the fun in his voice. I have to ask, are preachers in church any less entertainers when they stand on a stage yelling about hell and sin?