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.
How did Camus really die that night?
Were they right, when he died was it really his time?
Or was it suicide?
And Holden Caufield is a friend of mine
We go drinking from time to time
And I find: it gets harder every time
Back off
But your out on the street again
Don't you stop
Did you know you couldn't swim?
Back off
Until your on the street again
I'm not gonna play if there ain't no way I'll win
Well Hemmingway never seemed to mind the banality of a normal life
And I find: it gets harder every time.
So he aimed a shotgun into the blue
Placed his face between the two and sighed: 'Here's to life!'
Back off
But your out on the street again
Don't you stop
Did you know you couldn't swim?
Back off
Until your on the street again
I'm not gonna play if there ain't no way I'll win
Hey there Salinger what did you do
Just when the world was looking to you
To write anything that meant anything
You told us you were through
And its been years since you passed away
But I see no plaque and I see no grave
And I can't help believing that you wanted it this way.
And Vincent Van Gogh why do you weep?
You were on your way to heaven but the road was steep
And who was there to break your fall?
We're guilty, one and all
And I don't know much but I do know this
With a golden heart comes a rebel fist
But I can't help agreeing with those that would not quit
And it makes me sick when I think of it
All my heroes could not live with this
And I hope you rest in peace because with us you never did
And you were much to young
And you changed my life
But I draw the line at suicide
So here's to life!
Were they right, when he died was it really his time?
Or was it suicide?
And Holden Caufield is a friend of mine
We go drinking from time to time
And I find: it gets harder every time
Back off
But your out on the street again
Don't you stop
Did you know you couldn't swim?
Back off
Until your on the street again
I'm not gonna play if there ain't no way I'll win
Well Hemmingway never seemed to mind the banality of a normal life
And I find: it gets harder every time.
So he aimed a shotgun into the blue
Placed his face between the two and sighed: 'Here's to life!'
Back off
But your out on the street again
Don't you stop
Did you know you couldn't swim?
Back off
Until your on the street again
I'm not gonna play if there ain't no way I'll win
Hey there Salinger what did you do
Just when the world was looking to you
To write anything that meant anything
You told us you were through
And its been years since you passed away
But I see no plaque and I see no grave
And I can't help believing that you wanted it this way.
And Vincent Van Gogh why do you weep?
You were on your way to heaven but the road was steep
And who was there to break your fall?
We're guilty, one and all
And I don't know much but I do know this
With a golden heart comes a rebel fist
But I can't help agreeing with those that would not quit
And it makes me sick when I think of it
All my heroes could not live with this
And I hope you rest in peace because with us you never did
And you were much to young
And you changed my life
But I draw the line at suicide
So here's to life!
Lyrics submitted by SlapsterMcFlash, edited by Scepvyle
Here's to Life Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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KDC - kurt donald cobain.. that's the only part of this song I really don't like because it's pretty much been proven he was murdered, not killed himself... but overall I think it's about all these genuises who were very disturbed - like other people said, but to go farther into it I think it's about how all of Thomas's heroes have let him down by killing themself and how he knows he's stronger than that and wouldn't kill himself. ex: and i don't know much, but i do know this: with a golden heart comes a rebel fist but i can't help agreeing with those that would not quit and and you changed my life but i draw the line at suicide so here's to life!
i love thomas's thought on anti suicide.. like a better place a better time. I saw streetlight in toronto 2 weeks ago and it was sooo amazing... I met Dan and I got one of Thomas's picks... best time ever.
i want to just humor the fact the cobain killed himself, because thats the topper on the cake for the song. that seals the song with the golden stamp of awesomeness.
Anybody here him say KDC near then end? Somebody told me if stands for Kurt Cobain.
Truth. The line goes <br /> <br /> "and i hope you rest in peace because because with us you never did<br /> and KDC, you were much too young<br /> and you changed my life..."
Streetlight Manifesto: Dan Ross - bari sax Mike Soprano - trombone Jim Conti - tenor sax Jamie Egan - trumpet Chris Thatcher - drums Tomas Kalnoky - guitar, vocals Chris Paszik - bass (Josh Ansley quit)
BOTAR: Nick Afflito - trumpet Marcy Ciuffreda - cello Jamie Egan - trombone Rachel Goldstein - viola, vocals Layton Hays - piano Achilles Kalnoky - violin Tomas Kalnoky - guitar, vocals Paul Lowndes - drums Chris Paszik - bass Mark Rendeiro - french horn Dan Ross - bari/alto sax Pete Sibilia - tenor sax Shane Thomson - percussion Natalia Ushak - vocals
Original C22 lineup: Tomas Kalnoky - guitar, vocals Josh Ansley - bass Chris Greer - drums Jamie Egan - tromone Kevin Gunther - trumpet Ryan Eldred - saxophone
I wrote an essay on The Catcher in the Rye for English class. I wrote about how Holden Caulfield wants to preserve children's innocence, but eventually gives it up (when he doesn't try to "catch" Phoebe from falling off the carrousel) and finds happiness.
Holden does not commit suicide. At the end of the book, he feels happy and plans to continue his schooling. That's why Kalnoky says that "Holden Caulfield is a friend of mine." Despite his depression, Holden did not kill himself. Therefore Kalnoky respects Holden and considers him a friend.
and holden caufield is a friend of mine we go drinking from time to time
hey there salinger, what did you do? just when the world was looking for you to write anything that meant anything
those are references to the book Catcher and The Rye...right?
what are all the other references to? Camus, hemmingway, vincent van gogh, etc.
regardless, awesome song.
Hemmingway = Uber awesome author. Suffered from mental illness, killed himself with a shotgun blast. "Hunting" accident.
Van Gogh = Uber awesome artist. A deeply, deeply disturbed man later in life. Suffered from epilepsy, and lived in an asylum, where he was tormented by the conditions of the other patients. Cut off his lower earlobe with a razor blade before commiting himself. Though he did make a recovery, one day he just took his easel out to a field, pulled out a revolver, and shot himself in the chest.
Albert Camus = Author. Wrote several plays, including "The Plague", and "The Just Assassins". Won a nobel prize, actually. Died in an auto accident, thought to be a suicide. His final works were found in the car with him.
Every person mentioned was a genius, who was emotionally disturbed. Pretty much all of them commited suicide, too. It's been awhile since I read Catcher In The Rye, though, so I don't know if Holden offed himself...but I know Salinger is killing himself, just slowly.
Salinger is meant to be the 'hero' of this song, because rather thsn commiting suicide he just avioded the public focus because it hindered more than helped him, im not sure about holden caulfield tho. but yeh its all in the lil' book you get with the bandits CD lol im responding to a post made 5 years ago XD how time flies.
Holden Caufield never killed himself, but he was in a mental institution at the end of the book. Read the book, haha.
This is an awesome song. Awesome band, too (and Chris is an awesome drummer. He's also the best tech my school's drumline has ever had the pleasure of working with!) But I'm curious, because the Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution also have this song in their repertoire, so who wrote the original song and performed it first?
it was a BOTAR song first, since BOTAR released it at least 6 months (maybe more) before SM was even on the map.
It would interest you too know that Tomas plays for B.O.T.A.R and helped start it. So it is all his music..
It does stand for Kurt Cobain...
WEZ