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.
There was a guy making a plan
Find a girl, she'd understand
And say, "Please don't worry"
This one was right, well that was the thing
Closing your eyes, see wedding rings
Well there is no hurry
A day like today, waiting for wings to form
You're waiting for clouds and storms
And for safety
And I said, "I will"
And I ask you please lie still
Your faith means everything
The one thing that I protect
Well don't you know, don't you forget
The sound of my voice
And hands down in the hold I brace
Put your hands on your handsome face
And lie when you say
"I haven't got much, maybe today"
And it's all you won't become
And it's everything you might have done
My dear
Closing in fast on another year
And I will be anxious arms
Beside myself when there's no one else
Would you be my answer then?
Won't you be my answer?
Say it again
(Repeat)
A day like today, waiting for wings to form
You're waiting for clouds and storms
And for safety
And I said, "I will"
And I ask you please lie still
Your faith means everything
And I will be anxious arms
Beside myself when there's no one else
Would you be my answer then?
Won't you be my answer?
Say it again
(Repeat)
Say it again
Say it again
Say it again
Say it again (So unsure until tonight)
Say it again (Strong and pure and know it's right)
Say it again (Today is our whole life)
Say it again
And you care
(And you give what you have and it's all that you've got)
What you have
(And you hope it's enough but you know that it's not)
And you say
(You say)
"Please don't worry"
And you care
(And you tear it apart and you count up the cost)
In your heart
(And your head swims, it all gets lost)
And you say
(You say)
"There is no hurry"
(Repeat)
Find a girl, she'd understand
And say, "Please don't worry"
This one was right, well that was the thing
Closing your eyes, see wedding rings
Well there is no hurry
A day like today, waiting for wings to form
You're waiting for clouds and storms
And for safety
And I said, "I will"
And I ask you please lie still
Your faith means everything
The one thing that I protect
Well don't you know, don't you forget
The sound of my voice
And hands down in the hold I brace
Put your hands on your handsome face
And lie when you say
"I haven't got much, maybe today"
And it's all you won't become
And it's everything you might have done
My dear
Closing in fast on another year
And I will be anxious arms
Beside myself when there's no one else
Would you be my answer then?
Won't you be my answer?
Say it again
(Repeat)
A day like today, waiting for wings to form
You're waiting for clouds and storms
And for safety
And I said, "I will"
And I ask you please lie still
Your faith means everything
And I will be anxious arms
Beside myself when there's no one else
Would you be my answer then?
Won't you be my answer?
Say it again
(Repeat)
Say it again
Say it again
Say it again
Say it again (So unsure until tonight)
Say it again (Strong and pure and know it's right)
Say it again (Today is our whole life)
Say it again
And you care
(And you give what you have and it's all that you've got)
What you have
(And you hope it's enough but you know that it's not)
And you say
(You say)
"Please don't worry"
And you care
(And you tear it apart and you count up the cost)
In your heart
(And your head swims, it all gets lost)
And you say
(You say)
"There is no hurry"
(Repeat)
Lyrics submitted by XPlasteredX
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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.
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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.
Yeah, like someone said, there are sexual undertones but the meaning is deeper than that.
Seems the guy was wanting to finally find a girl that understands his pain. He found one who's comforting words to his pain are "please don't worry." They fall in love and soon think of marriage, but the guy's issues may run pretty deep because she's fearful of instability. Waiting for wings, with clouds and storm, to fly upon, is analogous to a steady love without inevitable turbulence. He says "I will" be your safety and asks her to bear with him ("please lie still"). He tells her that her faith in him means everything to him.
His embrace is moving, but the issues still cause doubt (she can't give him an answer). This must go on for a little while because of the year coming to a close.
He isn't perfect but his love is strong enough for him to be strong for her, and wait anxiously for her to feel safe with him. The love is there and it's wanting to bloom ("so unsure until tonight"..."today is our whole life"), but fear makes her unsure and "count up the cost" and consequences of marrying before they're ready. She cares. She says "there is no hurry." The song sounds surreal and sad all at once.