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.
Baby's born on a bathroom floor
Her mother prays that it'll never cry
But nothing's wrong, you've got your prom dress on
When they ask you'll say 'it isn't mine'
You know they're gonna know you lied
Why the hell don't you throw yourself away
You know they're gonna burn it down
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you out
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you
Why the hell don't you throw yourself away
You know they're gonna burn it down
So keep the way you feel anonymous
And hide it all until the day you die
Your secret's safe, at least you thought it was
But you can only keep it for a little while
And now you're terrified
Why the hell don't you throw yourself away
You know they're gonna burn it down
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you out
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you
Why the hell don't you throw yourself away
You know they're gonna burn it down
Baby's born on a bathroom floor
Her mother prays that it'll never cry
But nothings wrong, you've got your prom dress on
When they ask you'll say 'it isn't mine'
And damn you for thinking we will never know
And damn you for thinking we would never mind
Only reason that you made it this far
You never asked him but you never tried
Why the hell don't you throw yourself away
Why the hell don't you blow yourself away
You know they're gonna burn it down
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you out
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you out
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you out
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you out
Why the hell don't you blow yourself away
You know they're gonna burn it down
Her mother prays that it'll never cry
But nothing's wrong, you've got your prom dress on
When they ask you'll say 'it isn't mine'
You know they're gonna know you lied
Why the hell don't you throw yourself away
You know they're gonna burn it down
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you out
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you
Why the hell don't you throw yourself away
You know they're gonna burn it down
So keep the way you feel anonymous
And hide it all until the day you die
Your secret's safe, at least you thought it was
But you can only keep it for a little while
And now you're terrified
Why the hell don't you throw yourself away
You know they're gonna burn it down
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you out
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you
Why the hell don't you throw yourself away
You know they're gonna burn it down
Baby's born on a bathroom floor
Her mother prays that it'll never cry
But nothings wrong, you've got your prom dress on
When they ask you'll say 'it isn't mine'
And damn you for thinking we will never know
And damn you for thinking we would never mind
Only reason that you made it this far
You never asked him but you never tried
Why the hell don't you throw yourself away
Why the hell don't you blow yourself away
You know they're gonna burn it down
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you out
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you out
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you out
Wash my hands of this
You notice how God ain't even helping you out
Why the hell don't you blow yourself away
You know they're gonna burn it down
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Light Up The Sky
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Van Halen
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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.
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
yes they are saying "so keep the way you feel anonymous" i looked it up in the cd booklet