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.
Welcome here, the squirrel-wheel begins
fasten the left hand belts
Remember not to think too much
and your trip will be numbingly pleasant
Non-caring is the easiest way
but to secure a passage to the 2nd plane
you have to complete level one
Their dead-smile lips turn on their TV
while urban gravestones scrape the skies
Rising over marionette cities and marionette skies
This is episode 666
destination chaos
Each and all an actor blind
fasten the left hand belts
Remember not to think too much
and your trip will be numbingly pleasant
Non-caring is the easiest way
but to secure a passage to the 2nd plane
you have to complete level one
Their dead-smile lips turn on their TV
while urban gravestones scrape the skies
Rising over marionette cities and marionette skies
This is episode 666
destination chaos
Each and all an actor blind
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Light Up The Sky
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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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.
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
I think this song is about how the media numbs our senses. The 666 reference is not necessarily demonic. It's more about how we allow ourselves to get wrapped up in everything we see and hear on television, radio, video games. These things collectively become our anti-God, drawing us into their debauchery. Of course, I could be way off. These guys don't even speak English as their first language. But this album is absolutely incredible. There's no filler to be found. Every song is worthy of praise and chock-full of musicianship.
666 reffered to "the beast" which, arguable, popular media has become. Perhaps it's use could be an allution to the evil and unstobable nature of media?
I think it's about people that don't think for themselves and are to lazy. People that could easily be controlled by the media. The guitars are great in this song. It's a very intellectual death metal song.
I personally do not think this has nothing to do with a hypothetical Satan, don't get me wrong, it might be about the powerful media, but all of their well written and performed songs have the allusion of evil and death.
The guys at the top are most right i would think. In Flames doesnt even speak english as their first language but they do a good job, There songs are very symbollic and hard to understand and the singer growls alot making it hard to understand but an amazing band and wish they would tour Canada
also wishes they would tour Canada
they do. this coming 7 years later..lol
They do.....they are coming in sept 7 in totonto i think
they also came with iced earch on april 14 i think
IN FLAMES is everything music should be, greatest metal band ive ever heard. *agrees with Jester24...that'll be a hell of a show.
I'm seeing In Flames with SLAYER tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! \m/
I'm commenting 11 years later, just to say that that must have been the most incredible show in the world. I'm so jealous.
This Song Was The First In Flames Song Ive Ever Heard, And I Was Very Impressed. In Flames Doesnt Get The Recognization that they deserve. I Moved to this small town and nobody knew who In Flames was. Soon After, In Flames was voted #1 Band in Our Highschool. Now, Go Forth! And Spread The Word Of In Flames!