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.
ever since they caught me with the sheriff's girl
my life's been a terror in the marketplace
full of cussing and full of screaming
full of spitting in my face
my nights are full of the phone's ring
from the lonely and from the hidden
my dreams are full of one thing
marianna underneath me
and when the preacher comes, that's the worst part
olga you've been a'sinning
if you want redemption then you listen
olga do you hear the lord say
to bring you jesus for your birthday
my old friend beau's been coming around
around about three times a week and
he calls me his baby
and i think i know what he means
i say it's not that i don't like you
it's just i love marianna
but i don't say that cause i'm scared to
but i wish i wish i wish
and what he says to me when he thinks i'm sleeping
olga hitch up your dress a bit
come morning we'll have down away with this
olga well if i may
i brought you jesus for your birthday
i found a way jesus will take you
sister you lay his hand will break you
and you will say hallelujah
well ever since i've fallen under jesus
i feel so closed up and
my heart it aches for marianna
and i miss her, i miss her
sometimes i see her in the marketplace
and i cry out, and they hold me down
they think i've seen the savior's face
but it's only that i'm lonely
and what she says to me when i'm dreaming
olga kick off your boots and shit
come morning we'll have done away with this
olga well it's okay
i brought you heaven for your birthday
olga kick off your boots and shit
come morning we'll be far away from this
olga well it's okay
i brought you heaven for your birthday
hallelujah marianna
my life's been a terror in the marketplace
full of cussing and full of screaming
full of spitting in my face
my nights are full of the phone's ring
from the lonely and from the hidden
my dreams are full of one thing
marianna underneath me
and when the preacher comes, that's the worst part
olga you've been a'sinning
if you want redemption then you listen
olga do you hear the lord say
to bring you jesus for your birthday
my old friend beau's been coming around
around about three times a week and
he calls me his baby
and i think i know what he means
i say it's not that i don't like you
it's just i love marianna
but i don't say that cause i'm scared to
but i wish i wish i wish
and what he says to me when he thinks i'm sleeping
olga hitch up your dress a bit
come morning we'll have down away with this
olga well if i may
i brought you jesus for your birthday
i found a way jesus will take you
sister you lay his hand will break you
and you will say hallelujah
well ever since i've fallen under jesus
i feel so closed up and
my heart it aches for marianna
and i miss her, i miss her
sometimes i see her in the marketplace
and i cry out, and they hold me down
they think i've seen the savior's face
but it's only that i'm lonely
and what she says to me when i'm dreaming
olga kick off your boots and shit
come morning we'll have done away with this
olga well it's okay
i brought you heaven for your birthday
olga kick off your boots and shit
come morning we'll be far away from this
olga well it's okay
i brought you heaven for your birthday
hallelujah marianna
Lyrics submitted by lurkinginsagas
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.