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 stole a page from your book
And a line from your page
And flew into a lesbian rage
Cursing mine and my own rotten luck
Another nude descends a staircase to get fucked
A city scene, darkness falls
Now skate hard down the gallery walls
Explore those themes
I hear your work is informed by queens
Hey, so is mine now
There is a plague on
There is a rat-tailed ensemble burying all of our hits in the sand
The same sand a desert uses
The same sand a desert uses
wipe that look from your face
The world is that which is the case
It is okay to be seen
Don't dethrone the drama queen
Just for putting everybody in their place
There is a plague on
There is a rat-tailed ensemble burying all of our hits in the sand
The same sand a desert uses
The same sand a desert uses
Now wipe that look from your face
The world is that which is the case
It is okay to be seen
Now wipe that look from your face
The world is that which is the case
It is okay to be seen
Don't dethrone the drama queen
Just for putting everybody in their place
Go, don't stay, just throw it all away.
There is you and then there is your body.
Go, don't stay, just throw it all away.
There is you and then there is your body.
Go, don't stay, just throw it all away.
There is you and then there is your body.
And a line from your page
And flew into a lesbian rage
Cursing mine and my own rotten luck
Another nude descends a staircase to get fucked
A city scene, darkness falls
Now skate hard down the gallery walls
Explore those themes
I hear your work is informed by queens
Hey, so is mine now
There is a plague on
There is a rat-tailed ensemble burying all of our hits in the sand
The same sand a desert uses
The same sand a desert uses
wipe that look from your face
The world is that which is the case
It is okay to be seen
Don't dethrone the drama queen
Just for putting everybody in their place
There is a plague on
There is a rat-tailed ensemble burying all of our hits in the sand
The same sand a desert uses
The same sand a desert uses
Now wipe that look from your face
The world is that which is the case
It is okay to be seen
Now wipe that look from your face
The world is that which is the case
It is okay to be seen
Don't dethrone the drama queen
Just for putting everybody in their place
Go, don't stay, just throw it all away.
There is you and then there is your body.
Go, don't stay, just throw it all away.
There is you and then there is your body.
Go, don't stay, just throw it all away.
There is you and then there is your body.
Lyrics submitted by Statbucksbabe28, edited by 101Volts
Chump Change Lyrics as written by Johnathan Carter Jim Davies
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave
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I love The New Pornographers, and agree it's a desert, a ruins, the music business is dead, but all the whining, while I sympathize, get's a bit old. I think Chump Change reflects some angst between band mates.
"There's a plague on, there's a rat-tailed ensemble burying all of our hits in the sand. The saints in the desert use their heads."
So, they're Saint John wandering the desert that's the music business - don't wig out. Carl whines a lot, obviously Dan does too, and with a lesbian rage, and yes it's unfair. But guys, we're all getting fucked with the exception of the bankers riding the gravy train at Goldman or JPMorgan; although perhaps that wasn't quite clear when Electric Version was produced.