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.
Do you feel anything at all?
Do you hear steps at the door?
Do you reckon the smell of...?
It's life - the the dark that binds you
Frightened by your own smell
Bitterness will run you through
Silent screaming
Turning, twisting the alphabet
Frantic eyes
Awaiting the answer
Splinters of a poem
Fragments of what you used to be
Habitual and gullible
Run-down memoirs is all that's left
Do you wish to sleep?
Do you aim for the shadow?
Do you feel infected?
It's life the the dark that binds you
It's the cowardice that pulls you under
And takes you to the end, where it begins
Release, the world is waiting on your arrival
Close your eyes, as we witness another bullet ride
Do you know about atrocity?
Do you that everybody's gone?
Do you know that you're on your own?
It's life - the the dark that binds you
Do you hear steps at the door?
Do you reckon the smell of...?
It's life - the the dark that binds you
Frightened by your own smell
Bitterness will run you through
Silent screaming
Turning, twisting the alphabet
Frantic eyes
Awaiting the answer
Splinters of a poem
Fragments of what you used to be
Habitual and gullible
Run-down memoirs is all that's left
Do you wish to sleep?
Do you aim for the shadow?
Do you feel infected?
It's life the the dark that binds you
It's the cowardice that pulls you under
And takes you to the end, where it begins
Release, the world is waiting on your arrival
Close your eyes, as we witness another bullet ride
Do you know about atrocity?
Do you that everybody's gone?
Do you know that you're on your own?
It's life - the the dark that binds you
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Gentle Hour
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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,
American Town
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
This song is about hating life, because of your own life. The internal struggle to have self-worth and all one can think about is the past and they become a pestimist. The last 2 paragraphs, represent suicide; the bullet takes you to another world, (bullet ride) but one only finds the same situation after they're dead, LIFE THE DARK THAT BINDS YOU.... like the old saying, life is what you make it.
Actually, this song is about badass guitar riffs.
I kinda think it relates to hostage in a hostage situation, when the captor is threatening to shoot witnesses in order to get ransom... just my thoughts... it cam to me after i was reading a tom clancy op center novel.
i think it has to do with paranoia, "steps at the door" and "Do you wish to sleep" sounds like a person hiding from the world but whatever, what a great fuckin song, but what do you expect form in flames, they rule/
I'd like to agree with asadcw on this one. It's about depression sprung from the insigt that your life could be so much more, or at least be...SOMETHING. It's about not living the life you would want to live, beeing aware of it; and still not doing anything about it. Sooner or later you won't be able to stand the sight of (or the smell of...) the pathetic spoil of the human beeing you are. It would be like beeing trapped in a box you can't get out of. Sooner or later that feeling would lead right down the path of insanity and towards the inevitabel end... Then you would wake up and live life again...exactly the same.
I love InFlames, and this song is great. It has such meaning while sounding SO COOL!!
the opening guitar parts are incredible, this song is ingenious.
FUCK FUCK FUCK THIS SONG FUCKING OWNS MY FUCKING LIFE!! ROOAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR GUITAR RIFFS OUTTA HELLS ASS!!!! YEAH FUCKING GET YOUR GUNS BITCH!!!!!
In this song, the vocalist (Friden) is asking you a series of questions about yourself, such as - "Do you feel anything at all?" "Do you hear steps at the door?" "Do you reckon the smell of...?" "Do you wish to sleep?" "Do you aim for the shadow?" "Do you feel infected" and so forth.
And basically, he's saying that if you answer "yes" to these, then it's because the dark binds you, as he clearly says when he states "It's life... the dark that binds you..."
This is about depression and desperation, feeling at the end of your rope and searching for a way out. Like a soul that wants to live, and is frantically try to find a reason to. Strangely though among this darkness there is a beam of light - 'the world is waiting on your arrival' - ie, whatever it is you want to do or be; GO FOR IT, DON'T LET THE DARKNESS BIND YOU!