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 want to tell you something;
Listen to me,
I'm trying to say, I'm better than you,
I am only what I am"
"We must not stand still,
For the night is coming,
Every man, every woman and child,
Everybody help me"
I hear, only what I want to hear,
But, I have to believe in something,
Have to believe in just one thing.
I said father Washington, you're all mixed up,
Collecting sinners in an old tin cup.
Well, spare a listen for a restless fool,
There's something missing when I need your rule.
Well, hey there;
You tell me you're a holy man, but, although I am just a beginner,
I don't see you as a winner.
I said, sister Washington, you're all washed up,
Collecting teardrops in a paper cup;
If I could tell you what you need to know;
If I could tell you to get on with the show.
I'd rather never leave her,
There's a storm in my head,
Makes me hear what you say;
Just was it true?
So, what have I to do?
Well, what has he to do?-
Ooh, what is there to-oo do+
What oh-oh-ohoh
"All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful, the lord god made them all"
Mary, oh tell me what I'm living for,
Cause I feel like I'm tossed in the river,
Oh' have you a son to deliver.
I said, father Washington, you're all mixed up,
Collecting sinners in an old tin cup,
You tell the children what you need to know,
But, will they listen when it's time to go.
Oh, sister Robinson, you're all washed up,
Collecting teardrops in a paper cup,
Can someone tell me what I need to know,
Can someone help me to get on with the show
Listen to me,
I'm trying to say, I'm better than you,
I am only what I am"
"We must not stand still,
For the night is coming,
Every man, every woman and child,
Everybody help me"
I hear, only what I want to hear,
But, I have to believe in something,
Have to believe in just one thing.
I said father Washington, you're all mixed up,
Collecting sinners in an old tin cup.
Well, spare a listen for a restless fool,
There's something missing when I need your rule.
Well, hey there;
You tell me you're a holy man, but, although I am just a beginner,
I don't see you as a winner.
I said, sister Washington, you're all washed up,
Collecting teardrops in a paper cup;
If I could tell you what you need to know;
If I could tell you to get on with the show.
I'd rather never leave her,
There's a storm in my head,
Makes me hear what you say;
Just was it true?
So, what have I to do?
Well, what has he to do?-
Ooh, what is there to-oo do+
What oh-oh-ohoh
"All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful, the lord god made them all"
Mary, oh tell me what I'm living for,
Cause I feel like I'm tossed in the river,
Oh' have you a son to deliver.
I said, father Washington, you're all mixed up,
Collecting sinners in an old tin cup,
You tell the children what you need to know,
But, will they listen when it's time to go.
Oh, sister Robinson, you're all washed up,
Collecting teardrops in a paper cup,
Can someone tell me what I need to know,
Can someone help me to get on with the show
Lyrics submitted by cheeky_munkeys42, edited by Bryophyta, BradBelanger, AlphaFSC, kwisp
A Soapbox Opera Lyrics as written by Roger Hodgson Richard Davies
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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.
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Amazing
Ed Sheeran
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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.
Yes, definitely, this song has strong connotations to the dogma and regimented nature of religion.
'I hear, only what I want to hear, But, I have to believe in something, Have to believe in just one thing.'
The odd belief that we MUST believe in only one god, a confined image of God. Where he stands as only the light, the truth, a benevolent warden in the skies, that grants us with things like love, and sunny days, and jaffa cakes.
It also refers to how religion looks at all that bad about you, 'father washington, you’re all mixed up, Collecting sinners in an old tin cup.' He states that religion is mixed up, how can something that's suppose to be so pure and free confine you to certain rules! its madness...
'dont do that! gods watching'
I think he wanted to express this feeling, for the ridiculousness of modern religion and faith.