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.
Hey Mike, if you listening,
I'm calling home to tell you how it is.
It's real bad, it's cold out here.
It's been a long and lonely year (It's been a long and lonely year)
It's been so long
Chorus
Don't give up, don't give in.
Don't give up, be my friend.
Hey Mike, when the check arrives,
hope you're gonna buy your girlfriend something nice.
A fat ring, a slick new ride.
Just let her know that it should have been mine
(Just let her know it should have been mine).
Just let her know
Chorus
Don't give up, don't give in.
Don't give up, be my friend.
Don't give up, don't give in.
I'm ending a better for this in the end
You'll get a letter adressed to a friend.
A friend who's like no friend that I've ever known.
When this is over.
I'm ending a better for this in the end
You'll get a letter adressed to a friend.
A friend who's like no friend that I've ever known.
When this is over I'm wanting to know his dark side chose,
His dark side glows. Dark side glows.
Chorus
Don't give up, don't give in.
Don't give up, be my friend.
Don't give up
Don't give in
Don't give up
Be my friend
Don't give up, don't give in
Hey Mike is your shiny car
fast enough to catch a shooting star
the one that we all wished on?
I'm calling home to tell you how it is.
It's real bad, it's cold out here.
It's been a long and lonely year (It's been a long and lonely year)
It's been so long
Chorus
Don't give up, don't give in.
Don't give up, be my friend.
Hey Mike, when the check arrives,
hope you're gonna buy your girlfriend something nice.
A fat ring, a slick new ride.
Just let her know that it should have been mine
(Just let her know it should have been mine).
Just let her know
Chorus
Don't give up, don't give in.
Don't give up, be my friend.
Don't give up, don't give in.
I'm ending a better for this in the end
You'll get a letter adressed to a friend.
A friend who's like no friend that I've ever known.
When this is over.
I'm ending a better for this in the end
You'll get a letter adressed to a friend.
A friend who's like no friend that I've ever known.
When this is over I'm wanting to know his dark side chose,
His dark side glows. Dark side glows.
Chorus
Don't give up, don't give in.
Don't give up, be my friend.
Don't give up
Don't give in
Don't give up
Be my friend
Don't give up, don't give in
Hey Mike is your shiny car
fast enough to catch a shooting star
the one that we all wished on?
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More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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/
Well, I was thinking about this song and I tried to find it some sense. After a few minutes of discussing with myself (that time, i was thinking about it since I heard that song for the first time, enjoying just the music 'cause the lyrics had no sense to me) and I guessed something.
The guy who's singing is talking about someone called Mike, and he want him to be his friend, he sends him money, he's waiting Mike's girlfriend enjoys Mike's gifts and a ride on a car (or something like that), but, for some weird reason, Mike doesn't seem to like this guy...
"It's real bad, it's cold out here It's been a long and lonely year"
Well, it seems they don't see each other al last the one whole year before. I guess it means they don't see a lot each other, in fact I believe they hardly see each other.
"Don't give up, Be my friend"
...
If I knew someone called Mike no matter how great was this guy, if he was so mean to me I wouldn't send him money!
But I was thinking about it a little more and I concluded the only one person I could try to get happy no matter what happen was my own son.
That's the point!
Listen to my theory:
Ryan (Let's call him so) is a middle-aged man who was searching for a job in his own city, but he could'nt find it, so he decided to try to get a job in another place, like another state, another city or, inclusive, another country.
But Ryan has a son: Mike. They had to separate when Mike was too young and that made Mike angry about his own father, for let him alone... (just saying)...
Well, that cold and hard year could mean Ryan was working so hard and he send Mike money, but not just Mike, but all his family (possibly his wife, i don't think he had another son or daughter)...
Mike is angry to Ryan 'cause he broke a promise. I dunno why, but I guess that when I hear "The [shooting star] we all wished on", that's why mike is so mean to Ryan, and why he doesn't want to return his calls or being his friend...
Ryan can't talk directly to Mike, that's why he's writing a letter. He's talking about someone great, a great friend, in fact, the best of them, but he recognize he could get angry (Remember "The Dark side shows, the dark side grows"), that could mean despite everything, Ryan gets hurt by Mike's Attitude to him.
End of the Theory
...Was I high when I thought about this?
Remember that guy of Yellowcard who's got Latin roots... That song could sound like the migration problem... That is the strongest reason I got to believe in my own theory... :]
"But I grew up, wishing on a star" - Starstruck
"Hey Mike, is your shiny car fast enough to catch a shooting star, The one that we all wished on?"
I think I just realized what this song is about.<br /> I kinda didn't like the lyrics to this but thinking about them.<br /> I think it's a Father, and his son's name is Mike.<br /> Parents love to be their kids friends. <br /> And they also send money to their kids that don't live with them.<br /> Also, who calls their parents when they move out? <br /> It's probably a Father talking to his son.
I think I just realized what this song is about. I kinda didn't like the lyrics to this but thinking about them. I think it's a Father, and his son's name is Mike. Parents love to be their kids friends. And they also send money to their kids that don't live with them. Also, who calls their parents when they move out? It's probably a Father talking to his son.
Does anyone know what this song means?
prolly about one of the guys g/fs back home. when the left a friend might of moved in...???
well for me this sounds like "Mike" was a good friend to him... but then he stole his girlfriend and started to become a bastard.
what cd is this on?
Less Than Jake LTD Tour EP
this song is about someone using someone else. "when the check arrives" is could be a metaphor for his sharing everything with one person and them telling everyone like its nothing...
This song is all about this X telling "Mike" the X wants Mike to buy his girlfriend something nice like a ring or a car of some sort hence: "Hope you're gonna buy your girlfriend something nice A fat ring, a slick new ride" thats my interpitation :)