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.
There's traffic in the sky
And it doesn't seem to be getting much better
There's kids playing games on the pavement
Drawing waves on the pavement
Shadows of the planes on the pavement
It's enough to make me cry
But that don't seem like it would make it feel better
Maybe it's a dream and if I scream
It will burst at the seams
Whole place will fall into pieces
And then they'd say
Well how could we have known?
I'll tell them it's not so hard to tell, no, no, no
If you keep adding stones
Soon the water will be lost in the well
Puzzle pieces in the ground
No one ever seems to be digging
Instead they're looking up towards the heavens
With their eyes on the heavens
There are shadows on the way to the heavens
It's enough to make me cry
That don't seem like it would make it feel better
The answers could be found
We could learn from digging down
But no one ever seems to be digging
Instead they'll say
Well how could we have known?
I'll tell them it's not so hard to tell, no, no, no
If you keep adding stones
Soon the water will be lost in the well
Words of wisdom all around
But no one ever seems to listen
They're talking about their plans on the paper
Building up from the pavement
There shadows from the scrapers on the pavement
It's enough to make me sigh
That don't seem like it would make it feel better
The words are all around
But the words are only sounds
And no one ever seems to listen
Instead they'll say
Well how could we have known?
I'll tell them it's not so hard to tell, no, no, no
If you keep adding stones
Soon the water will be lost in the well, lost in the well
And it doesn't seem to be getting much better
There's kids playing games on the pavement
Drawing waves on the pavement
Shadows of the planes on the pavement
It's enough to make me cry
But that don't seem like it would make it feel better
Maybe it's a dream and if I scream
It will burst at the seams
Whole place will fall into pieces
And then they'd say
Well how could we have known?
I'll tell them it's not so hard to tell, no, no, no
If you keep adding stones
Soon the water will be lost in the well
Puzzle pieces in the ground
No one ever seems to be digging
Instead they're looking up towards the heavens
With their eyes on the heavens
There are shadows on the way to the heavens
It's enough to make me cry
That don't seem like it would make it feel better
The answers could be found
We could learn from digging down
But no one ever seems to be digging
Instead they'll say
Well how could we have known?
I'll tell them it's not so hard to tell, no, no, no
If you keep adding stones
Soon the water will be lost in the well
Words of wisdom all around
But no one ever seems to listen
They're talking about their plans on the paper
Building up from the pavement
There shadows from the scrapers on the pavement
It's enough to make me sigh
That don't seem like it would make it feel better
The words are all around
But the words are only sounds
And no one ever seems to listen
Instead they'll say
Well how could we have known?
I'll tell them it's not so hard to tell, no, no, no
If you keep adding stones
Soon the water will be lost in the well, lost in the well
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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,
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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.
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Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I think sanscosm is right but it also has a broader meaning. This song doesn't only question the U.S. government for its inhumane policies but also the world in general for basically forgetting what it means to be human. Commercialism and quick pleasures are more important than real human bonds and communities now. If people weren't all out for themselves, the world could be a better place; it's this charge forward with blinders on that creates the sorts of problems that manifest in events like 9/11.
Bananapancakes is also right, that line demonstrates forgetting community as well. We no longer grow in nurturing communities but live for ourselves and try to rely on a book describing an abstract god to fit in all of our spirituality. The soul can be satisfied in more ways than one.