He reuses the verse melody from the previous album's "Dirty Little Religion", the topics of the verses are all over the place, and he packs too many words into one line (goes to show...) and too few in another (it's pretty hard to find), and rhymes "Henley Regatta" with "Persona non grata", but gets away with it all as only he could.
Well I know you can't work in fast food all your life
But don't sign that paper tonight
She said "But it's too late"
Then, I don't remember what I read
I don't remember what they said
I guess it doesn't matter
Guess it doesn't matter anymore
'Cause you're gonna go to the record store
You're gonna give 'em all your money
Radio plays what they want you to hear
They tell me it's cool, I just don't believe it
Sell out, with me, oh yea
Sell out, with me tonight
The record company's gonna give me lots of money and
Everything's gonna be alright
No more flipping burgers putting on my silly hat, you know
I don't want that no more
And I didn't ask when we'd get paid
I quit my day job anyway
I guess it doesn't matter
Guess it doesn't matter anymore
'Cause you're gonna go to the record store
You're gonna give 'em all your money
Radio plays what they want you to hear
Tell me it's cool, I just don't believe it
Sell out, with me, oh yea
Sell out with me tonight
The record company's gonna give me lots of money
And everything's gonna be
And I don't think it'll be so bad
And I know it won't be so bad
'Cause the man said "That's the way it is"
And the man said "It don't get better than this"
No, no, no
So I signed on to the record company
They say they're gonna give me lot's of money
If I play what they want you to hear
Tell me it's cool, and I'll sure believe it
Sell out, with me, oh yea
Sell out with me tonight
The record company's gonna give me lots of money
And everything's gonna be alright
Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah
The record company's gonna make everything alright
"Baby, don't you sign that paper tonight" she said
"But I can't work in fast food all my life"
But don't sign that paper tonight
She said "But it's too late"
Then, I don't remember what I read
I don't remember what they said
I guess it doesn't matter
Guess it doesn't matter anymore
'Cause you're gonna go to the record store
You're gonna give 'em all your money
Radio plays what they want you to hear
They tell me it's cool, I just don't believe it
Sell out, with me, oh yea
Sell out, with me tonight
The record company's gonna give me lots of money and
Everything's gonna be alright
No more flipping burgers putting on my silly hat, you know
I don't want that no more
And I didn't ask when we'd get paid
I quit my day job anyway
I guess it doesn't matter
Guess it doesn't matter anymore
'Cause you're gonna go to the record store
You're gonna give 'em all your money
Radio plays what they want you to hear
Tell me it's cool, I just don't believe it
Sell out, with me, oh yea
Sell out with me tonight
The record company's gonna give me lots of money
And everything's gonna be
And I don't think it'll be so bad
And I know it won't be so bad
'Cause the man said "That's the way it is"
And the man said "It don't get better than this"
No, no, no
So I signed on to the record company
They say they're gonna give me lot's of money
If I play what they want you to hear
Tell me it's cool, and I'll sure believe it
Sell out, with me, oh yea
Sell out with me tonight
The record company's gonna give me lots of money
And everything's gonna be alright
Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah
The record company's gonna make everything alright
"Baby, don't you sign that paper tonight" she said
"But I can't work in fast food all my life"
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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.
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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.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
My friend told me what this song was about and I agree with her. Basically its about a person who works in fast food and is in a band in his spare time. The band is good, but play 'unconventional' music. The person is sick of working in fast food and changes who he is to conform to what the record company wants him and his band to be like. His band now play and do what they want them to. The record companies decide what music should be like, the radio shows then play you what they want effecting directly what music the general public will get to hear. They decide whats the in thing and then you go out and buy it. Sadly thats the way it is. And this person is sad to be adding to it, but as he says, "You cant work in fast food all your life."