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.
He was throwing grain to the ground below, ground below
With dreary circles of his arm, going slow, very slow
His cap pulled down round his ears to
hide the smile and watery tears
My loving life is so wonderful
how small seeds gracefully to grow
into beautiful things that spring from these rows
With their musical names and musical sound
Dreary birds parade across the dreary sky, down below
the woman absent mindedly begins to sow, how she sows the
seeds her husband loved so much, but he's no longer
here with us
But her life is so beautiful
as memories continue to grow
into beautiful things that spring from these rows
With their musical names and musical sounds
Beautiful things that spring from these rows
with their musical names and musical sounds, and musical sounds
Distant tho I am
orange, gold, and green
firing, flaming, colors surround me
I'm always wondering where you are?
I'm always wondering where you are?
Darling shouldn't I be the one
wondering after all I am the one who is gone
I'm always wondering where you are
I'm always wondering where you are
Darling shouldn't I be the one
wondering after all I am the one who is gone
I'm always wondering
I'm the one, who is gone
I'm the one, who is gone
who is gone
But, there's beautiful things that spring from these rows
With their musical names, and musical sounds
there's beautiful things that spring from these rows
With their musical names, and musical sounds
and musical sounds
With dreary circles of his arm, going slow, very slow
His cap pulled down round his ears to
hide the smile and watery tears
My loving life is so wonderful
how small seeds gracefully to grow
into beautiful things that spring from these rows
With their musical names and musical sound
Dreary birds parade across the dreary sky, down below
the woman absent mindedly begins to sow, how she sows the
seeds her husband loved so much, but he's no longer
here with us
But her life is so beautiful
as memories continue to grow
into beautiful things that spring from these rows
With their musical names and musical sounds
Beautiful things that spring from these rows
with their musical names and musical sounds, and musical sounds
Distant tho I am
orange, gold, and green
firing, flaming, colors surround me
I'm always wondering where you are?
I'm always wondering where you are?
Darling shouldn't I be the one
wondering after all I am the one who is gone
I'm always wondering where you are
I'm always wondering where you are
Darling shouldn't I be the one
wondering after all I am the one who is gone
I'm always wondering
I'm the one, who is gone
I'm the one, who is gone
who is gone
But, there's beautiful things that spring from these rows
With their musical names, and musical sounds
there's beautiful things that spring from these rows
With their musical names, and musical sounds
and musical sounds
Lyrics submitted by ThreeMilesDown
Memories Lyrics as written by Steve Wyreman Sean Michael Anderson
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Oy, the person who submitted the lyrics spelled sew wrong. Anyway, this song is absolutely beautiful, I think it's perfect as the first song on Room Noises. I can't believe they're from Tyler, Texas. Since I live in Texas, it's just hard to imagine such an amazing band that comes from such a crappy town.