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.
Tonight my heart is cold
Lost in your lies, shallow replies
And gravity prevails this time its over
And you think you're the one
Calm me with your lies your simple tragedy
It's all I wish to hear tonight
And your all I wish to be
And this is how we all fall
Tonight my heart is cold
Lost in your lies, shallow replies
Tonight I'll just let go
Lost in you eyes, transparent cries
And innoncence derailed
Savage the poison
Unhurried compass east
Calm me with your lies your simple tragedy
It's all I wish to hear tonight
And your all I wish to be
And this is how we all fall
Tonight my heart is cold
Lost in your lies, shallow replies
Tonight I'll just let go
Lost in you eyes, transparent cries
And we are, we are, we are the arsons
Who start all of your fires
And we are the arsons
Who start all of your fires, burning
Burning your city down
Tonight my heart is cold
Lost in your lies, shallow replies
Tonight I'll just let go
Lost in you eyes, transparent cries
Lost in your lies, shallow replies
And gravity prevails this time its over
And you think you're the one
Calm me with your lies your simple tragedy
It's all I wish to hear tonight
And your all I wish to be
And this is how we all fall
Tonight my heart is cold
Lost in your lies, shallow replies
Tonight I'll just let go
Lost in you eyes, transparent cries
And innoncence derailed
Savage the poison
Unhurried compass east
Calm me with your lies your simple tragedy
It's all I wish to hear tonight
And your all I wish to be
And this is how we all fall
Tonight my heart is cold
Lost in your lies, shallow replies
Tonight I'll just let go
Lost in you eyes, transparent cries
And we are, we are, we are the arsons
Who start all of your fires
And we are the arsons
Who start all of your fires, burning
Burning your city down
Tonight my heart is cold
Lost in your lies, shallow replies
Tonight I'll just let go
Lost in you eyes, transparent cries
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
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"
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.
this song is great, it matches up with ready fuels, this is sorta how lies really do so much more damage than we think in a relationship!
I think it's about a girl who tells stories to make herself seem cooler then she is. ("Calm me with your lies, your simple tradgedy")
But Stephan (the singer) doesn't care, cos she has purty eyes. (Haha). I think I'm fetching now, but hey. It kind of makes sense.
I can relate to this song so well, it's one of my favorites of Anberlin's. I love it. I pretty much agree with you guys on the meaning. I think it's about a girl he knows who presents a false face to the world, and he knows it.
i first heard this song on the new tooth and nail cd, now it's one of my fav's.
unreal song
this song is about the hypocrisy and judgement often found in the church. It's about the way some leaders in the church preach and tell you it should be a certain way, but never stop to question what they're taught and/or are teaching. IT's about being jaded by these attitudes and wanting to find your own truth because all your fed is lies. Being an arsonist is about breaking down the walls and challenging "religious teachings" that hinder people from truly believing. the second verse is a play on words inspired by "brave new world" by Aldous Huxley. However, it's also pretty helpful to listen to when you find out the aweful truth about the person you're in a relationship with
the first time I listened to this cd (and anberlin) this song really caught my attention and I listened to it several times in a row before moving on; it's what got me hooked on Anberlin. ...never have been able to catch a meaning though.
I think that the whole "gravity prevails" is referring to how what goes up must come down so it seems like it would be a relationship that was great but it's falling apart. But I've been confused about that "We are the arsons" thing so the proper explanation seems to be the church one.
I loooooove this song! It is one of my favourites tracks EVER. Beautifully written, well sung and musically great too. What more could you want??
haha im probably wrong but I think it has to de with the media. "lost in your lies. shallow goodbyes""And innoncence derailed. Savage the poison" i think the song is saying how the media often lies and esagerates about things. and how children "grow-up" faster nowadays because of it. the "we are the arsons. who burn all your cities down part" is about how anberlin wants to be a good influence and not be like the media
I like the media explanation. It would fit more with who Anberlin is and would also be the more positive and sensible message.