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.
I am a scientist - I seek to understand me
All of my impurities and evils yet unknown
I am a journalist - I write to you to show you
I am an incurable
And nothing else behaves like me
and I know what's right
But I'm losing sight
Of the clues for which I search and choose
To abuse
To just unlock my mind
Yeah, and just unlock my mind
I am a pharmacist
Prescriptions I will fill you
Potions, pills and medicines
To ease your painful lives
I am a lost soul
I shoot myself with rock & roll
The hole I dig is bottomless
But nothing else can set me free
and I know what's right
But I'm losing sight
Of the clues for which I search and choose
To abuse
To just unlock my mind
Yeah, and just unlock my mind
I am a scientist - I seek to understand me
I am an incurable and nothing else behaves like me
Everything is right
Everything works out right
Everything fades from sight
Because that's alright with me
All of my impurities and evils yet unknown
I am a journalist - I write to you to show you
I am an incurable
And nothing else behaves like me
and I know what's right
But I'm losing sight
Of the clues for which I search and choose
To abuse
To just unlock my mind
Yeah, and just unlock my mind
I am a pharmacist
Prescriptions I will fill you
Potions, pills and medicines
To ease your painful lives
I am a lost soul
I shoot myself with rock & roll
The hole I dig is bottomless
But nothing else can set me free
and I know what's right
But I'm losing sight
Of the clues for which I search and choose
To abuse
To just unlock my mind
Yeah, and just unlock my mind
I am a scientist - I seek to understand me
I am an incurable and nothing else behaves like me
Everything is right
Everything works out right
Everything fades from sight
Because that's alright with me
Lyrics submitted by insulatedsoul, edited by T_D_Phoenix
I Am a Scientist Lyrics as written by Robert E Pollard Jr
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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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.
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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.
It's about self analysis and being human (or mentally/emotionally unstable) Most gbv lyrics are a mix of intuitive psychology and magical experience and their relations. "Nothing else behaves like me" the strangeness of individuality. "I am a journalist" the use of language to describe something that is beyond the alphabet and defies explanation. "Pills and potions" as anyone who's done psychedelics will know, offer a great insight into themselves, which is "bottomless", as is most psychoanalysis or honest search for understanding. "Clues I choose to abuse" escapism over insight. "Shoot myself with rock and roll" is about personalisation in listening to songs, and the illusory nature and danger of doing such things (as we're all doing here) "Impurities and evils unknown" unpredictability and the concept of shadow (in jungian terms) He knows what's right, but loses sight, the human condition during an ongoing existential crisis. "But it's alright", acceptance. "Everything turns out right" synchronicity.
He's a clever fellow is that Mr pollard. Well done him :-B
This is the best song ever made.
it's about substance abuse
if you don't understand, consider yrself lucky
i am an incurable just unlock my mind ease yr painful lives the hole i dig is bottomless nothing else can set me free
think: "drinker's peace" without the ironic distance. think elliott smith's "a distorted reality is now a necessity to be free"
he speaks in a language immediately recognizable to anyone with an addictive personality and even the slightest bit of self-awareness. you know what i'm talking about.
I think this song is describing what it is to be a musician (or perhaps more accuratly a lyricist). In trying to explain/understand/clarify things to people (the listeners), they are like scientists. In trying to show/display things to people (perhaps things they already know but can't put into words), they are like journalists. In trying to heal people with their music and words, they are pharmacists. But in trying to do all this for others, they lose themselves (but for GbV at least, thats ok, as the closing lines would indicate).
The guitar work is dreary, depressing, apocalyptic, cold, dark, scary, numbing.
I think this song is not so much about substance abuse as it is about being seriously addicted to something. And in Robert Pollard's case, I believe he is talking about being addicted to Rock n Roll music and to writing songs. Pollard has show over time that if nothing else he is addicted to songwriting. It's as if he needs to write new songs to stay alive. His addiction and need to constantly write new songs is "bottomless" and it's the only thing in his life that can set him free. He's an "incurable" but through this songwriting process Pollard figures out who he is. He "unlocks" his mind and all of his thoughts are released. The "prescriptions" Pollard is filling are songs for you and I to listen to and enjoy to help ease our painful lives.
I'm not sure anyone in modern music is as prolific or has written more songs than Pollard (" nothing else behaves like me"). And although not all of his songs hit the mark, I'm not sure anyone has written more great songs than Robert Pollard.
@Rickvee you echoed my thoughts exactly, it's a song about being a songwriter
@Rickvee you echoed my thoughts exactly, it's a song about being a songwriter
This song is awesome. It deserves more comments. As far as the meaning goes, I think despairport is on the right track here.
This song is amazing, I seek to understand me
I am a lost soul, I shoot myself with rock 'n roll. Brilliant.
yeah, despairport, exactly...