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.
Let's go
It's never too late to be early
Or try and maintain
Some scrap of integrity and certainty
I guess
My fingers
Won't apologize (are blistered)
And 1977 was a long time ago (and bleeding, there's no longer discomfort)
I don't care (you brought us)
I don't care how things, were and I won't
Apologize, I won't apologize
Fuck you
Our dreams and hopes, penetrated
And there is little hope
For the white man so
Hop on your rainbow
Ride it
My fingers
Into oblivion, go (are blistered and bleeding)
And ride into oblivion
For all I care (there's no longer)
You could be early (discomfort)
Or late, whatever (you brought us)
It's never too late to be early
Or try and maintain
Some scrap of integrity and certainty
I guess
My fingers
Won't apologize (are blistered)
And 1977 was a long time ago (and bleeding, there's no longer discomfort)
I don't care (you brought us)
I don't care how things, were and I won't
Apologize, I won't apologize
Fuck you
Our dreams and hopes, penetrated
And there is little hope
For the white man so
Hop on your rainbow
Ride it
My fingers
Into oblivion, go (are blistered and bleeding)
And ride into oblivion
For all I care (there's no longer)
You could be early (discomfort)
Or late, whatever (you brought us)
Lyrics submitted by eulogyxforxanxangel, edited by NoiseMan
Pulmonary Archery Lyrics as written by Wade Macneil Dallas Green
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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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.
Mountain Song
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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."
Y'know. I never looked at it this way. Ediger may be right on this one (though i doubt the same for Waterwings, which is clearly about divorce). To me, this is what it sounds like: He was late for history class and the teacher insisted he apologizes. This makes him angry. He sits down and writes an angry song about not caring about this shit that doesnt matter. Then he starts trailing off with the whole Alamo thing (wasnt there a war where the Mexicans beat the Americans involving the Alamo or something like that? I dont know anything about American history). He jsut starts having fun and moves onto the artsy part about the rainbow. If you've ever written lyrics, you should know that sometimes you make no connection, but it just sounds great, so you keep it.
I was thinking.. just extending on the school idea.. I think it has a double meaning. Hes in history class, and getting the whole "You have to say sorry to the african americans" thing, even though he didnt do anything wrong.. it wasnt his mistake, hence he feels that he shouldnt have to apologise.. And then, at the same time he's going through somthing with a girl where he's copping the blame but he didnt do anything wrong.. If he'd just say sorry it'd be okay, except he has dignity and wont allow himself to say sorry for somthing he didnt do. I was thinkin that maybe the rainbow is a reference to drug induced hallucinations? Maybe trying to say "You're out of your fuckin mind if you think im going to say sorry"..
The alamo being penatrated... reference to history class again, but also... the alamo was a church where mexicans besieged american rebels who were trying to make texas independant of mexico.... so the white man would be him, an 'american rebel' because he WILL NOT apologise and is trying to separate himself from this lie... so now she's (the love interest, symbolised by the mexican force) is going to infiltrate and take what he is defending. hence, there 'is little hope for the white man'
I dunno.. just a few thoughts.
kenk.spaces.msn.com Peace>Kenk
This song has so much emotion it makes you want to throw your computer through a window. If you haven't seen the video to this song, get it now.
i actually love the video.
well, the video to me was kinda strange that guy was just going crazy and strangling himself from time to time
I REALLY dont think this song is about sex. I think its about the punk movement, and how its dead. And it was a long long time ago. Its how people ruined it and they wont apologize. Great song though, Dallas is amazing. St. Catharines PRIDE!! :D
I really like your idea and how you have interpreted the song. As for the las set of lyrics, maybe George means all whites will be blamed for racists crimes (even if they're not part of them) and they should find a place where they won't be judged for this.
Alexis rules as does this song
i agree with big D. after listening to crisis, i looked up the meaning for that song because i heard them saying ONE NINE SEVEN SEVEN, which is the same year as in this song and it was about the huge blizzard in niagra. that def has to be the true meaning. but i really realy like ediger's interpretation of the whole album. it makes a lot of sense and its a cool idea.
Alright. I love this song and want to give my interpretation. I believe this song is a reference to the death of the old punk scene. At the beginning, I believe, they are talking about how their record company may want them to resort back to how punk was. The more socially "acceptable" standard for punk. "Or try to maintain some scrap of integrity and certainty" is basically them saying if they went along with the norms of old punk their lives wouldn't be as stressful and musically more stable if that makes sense(record label hasseling them or what not). 1977, self explanatory, they " won't apologize" cause essecially AOF is a leading band in the "Screamo" front and therefore have greatly influenced and basically ensured this genres survival; probably not to the liking of some record companies. They don't care for the past only the future of their amazing style of music. The alamo has been penatrated... i think this is them saying the pointless "punk" music of the past has been replaced and there's no hope for those who wont accept this new meaningful genre of music (the white man, figure of the stereotypical arogant man of the past). The last part is basically saying so come along for the ride and join the band in what record companies would probably refer to as oblivion or musical suicide cause society seems to hate screamo music. At the end, they are basically saying converters to this new style of music could be early or late... it wont affect their style.The overall theme is essencially, past music genres, namely punk and it's inability to mix with new genres. They are still gonna play there amazing and unique style of music. Love AOF!
there is a video? sweet