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.
Spoken:
Shoot down some of those airplanes your flyin',
specially the ones that are flyin' too low (x2)
Come on back up to earth my friend
Come on back up with me
We've all been up through the night time, baby
Now let's read the rays of the ???
With the power of soul
Anything is possible (x2)
Flyin' too much today
It's so groovy to float around sometimes
Even a jellyfish will agree to that
Yeah, but that old jellyfish
been floatin' around so long
Lord, he ain't got a bone
in his jelly back
Floatin' everyday and every night
Ridin' high is a risk
Sometimes the wind ain't right
With the power of soul
Anything is possible
With the power of you
Anything you wanna do
Shoot down some of those airplanes your flyin',
specially the ones that are flyin' too low (x2)
Come on back up to earth my friend
Come on back up with me
We've all been up through the night time, baby
Now let's read the rays of the ???
With the power of soul
Anything is possible (x2)
Flyin' too much today
It's so groovy to float around sometimes
Even a jellyfish will agree to that
Yeah, but that old jellyfish
been floatin' around so long
Lord, he ain't got a bone
in his jelly back
Floatin' everyday and every night
Ridin' high is a risk
Sometimes the wind ain't right
With the power of soul
Anything is possible
With the power of you
Anything you wanna do
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
no one has commented on this song for 3 years??? im breaking that chain. most of jimi's stuff is about love. someone needs to post doom changes. i guess this is about him breaking up and enjoying being single (floating around). we miss u jimi. god. seriously.
I have Power of Soul (Live at Filmore East) and its pretty much the same thing with some extra lyrics...are they two different songs or one?
great song
"Sing it jimi, you live on the airwaves which gives you the right to communicate with your obsessors. Oh you mighty genius, play on won't you!"
Just something I thought of after listening to this song for like probably the 10th time in my life. never gets old sorta like pink floyd's DSOTM)
Some good soul/funk guitar on this song.
This is Power of Soul. The title is wrong (different song).