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.
behind a burning red fog
the great mind swims in confusion
its blood ferments in anger
honor and wisdom will cower
your river's flow is damned all to hell
drifting in a current to stagnate
encircle the vision of rust
your river's flow is damned all to hell
strong hearts soar through blindness
tearing the fog, tearing the eyes to clarity
to a place where truth is seen
your shell is hollow, so am i
the rest will follow, so will i
the great mind swims in confusion
its blood ferments in anger
honor and wisdom will cower
your river's flow is damned all to hell
drifting in a current to stagnate
encircle the vision of rust
your river's flow is damned all to hell
strong hearts soar through blindness
tearing the fog, tearing the eyes to clarity
to a place where truth is seen
your shell is hollow, so am i
the rest will follow, so will i
Lyrics submitted by Disposition_987
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
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.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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,
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/
I think there's a little more going on than that. Of course, every Neurosis album is fairly conceptual and Times of Grace is one I've yet to entirely decipher. yet I see the "great mind" and the collective conciousness of humanity, and that times are are about to get brutal and violent and rationality isn't going to save you ("honor and wisdom will cower"). The river's flow is quite that sort of temporal pattern, the flow of life if you will. Our shell is hollow because we're powerless to betray the great mind, we're part of a system so therefore we're not grand individual egos we made ourselves out to be, therefore since we're unable to dam or diverge the flow, all we can do is follow it.
This is one of my favorite songs by them, if not my favorite.
It's about how... if you are a person who is very aware of your surroundings, an intelligent person, a "great mind", you will suffer and be confused while your alive for seeying what path the world around you has chosen to take. Destruction, chaos, war.
The last two verses are about humility. I live my life in "peace", and i will die. But you live yours in war and you will, of course, die as well. We are going to the same place, but some are being judged for bad, and some for good.
That makes sense, next song "The last you'll know" Is about that judgement. "He is the last we'll know, mercy for you(...)All our crimes trial waits everyone(...)To guide us through terminus..."<br /> If you take these songs individual, I mean non conceptual, it's much more harder to interpet it.
i see it like your doing something you know is wrong and you still do it. your angry with yourself. but then u break the habit or whatever and go back to what's right. then its so hard to keep right, so u go back doing wrong(your shell is hollow)