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.
It's crowded and we're bored
The chamber maid: she snores
The drummer's gone to tune up all her toms
I laid my head down and now my wallet's gone
Hooplas involving circus tricks
At addresses way out in the sticks
The pixies in tight green little skirts say it's so much better now that is hurts
The tides that pull you down in the river
She touched my knee and that made me quiver
Winks with her eye, 3.14 (pi)
Is there anyone who knows the whole thing?
It's loaded with references when the mime speaks about the biz
We asked him for a glass that might be clean
But he's too busy posing for fashion 'zines
Hooplas involving circus tricks
At addresses way out in the sticks
The pixies in tight green little skirts say it's so much better now that is hurts
The tides that pull you down in the river
She touched my knee and that made me quiver
Winks with her eye, 3.14 (pi)
Is there anyone who knows the whole thing?
Hooplas involving circus tricks
At addresses way out in the sticks
The pixies in tight green little skirts say it's so much better now that is hurts
The tides that pull you down in the river
She touched my knee and that made me quiver
Winks with her eye, 3.14 (pi)
Is there anyone, is there anyone?
Hooplas involving circus tricks
At addresses way out in the sticks
The pixies in tight green little skirts say it's so much better now that is hurts
The tides that pull you down in the river
She touched my knee and that made me quiver
Winks with her eye, 3.14 (pi)
Is there anyone who knows the whole thing?
The chamber maid: she snores
The drummer's gone to tune up all her toms
I laid my head down and now my wallet's gone
Hooplas involving circus tricks
At addresses way out in the sticks
The pixies in tight green little skirts say it's so much better now that is hurts
The tides that pull you down in the river
She touched my knee and that made me quiver
Winks with her eye, 3.14 (pi)
Is there anyone who knows the whole thing?
It's loaded with references when the mime speaks about the biz
We asked him for a glass that might be clean
But he's too busy posing for fashion 'zines
Hooplas involving circus tricks
At addresses way out in the sticks
The pixies in tight green little skirts say it's so much better now that is hurts
The tides that pull you down in the river
She touched my knee and that made me quiver
Winks with her eye, 3.14 (pi)
Is there anyone who knows the whole thing?
Hooplas involving circus tricks
At addresses way out in the sticks
The pixies in tight green little skirts say it's so much better now that is hurts
The tides that pull you down in the river
She touched my knee and that made me quiver
Winks with her eye, 3.14 (pi)
Is there anyone, is there anyone?
Hooplas involving circus tricks
At addresses way out in the sticks
The pixies in tight green little skirts say it's so much better now that is hurts
The tides that pull you down in the river
She touched my knee and that made me quiver
Winks with her eye, 3.14 (pi)
Is there anyone who knows the whole thing?
Lyrics submitted by thegreatagent
Hooplas Involving Circus Tricks Lyrics as written by Eric Elbogen
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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@[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
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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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
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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.
LOVE this song. And band. Their songs are so unique, original, and clever. I'm pretty sure it's about a circus, but I have another theory as well. I was thinking it might have to do with illegal activity.
Hooplas involving circus tricks At addresses way out in the sticks
...Out in the sticks, like where no one can find them doing illegal things?
The pixies in tight green little skirts say it's so much better now that is hurts
...So maybe it's like a whorehouse or something? haha
It's loaded with references when the mime speaks about the biz We asked him for a glass that might be clean But he's too busy posing for fashion 'zines
... Because everything's dirty in their little business?
Maybe i'm wrong in my theorizing, but oh well :)
This was the only song from their CD "Numbers and Mumbles"that didn't have its lyrics on this site. It's my favorite Say Hi song though so I decided to submit the lyrics.Great song, great CD, great band, I don't really know what the song is about though. A girl probably.
thanks for adding these, i couldn't figure them out as easily as the other songs. so thanks!
Yeah thanks for adding them. This song rocks.
Um well, let's see...
"Winks with her eye, 3.14 (pi) Is there anyone who knows the whole thing?"
Pi is an incredibly large number and it goes on and on. No one knows how long it is, and there is no pattern whatsoever to the order of its digits. And also..one little Asian boy has recited it to 1000 decimal places from memory.
"I laid my head down and now my wallet's gone" I think that line is saying that his attention faded for a moment and then a girl just caught him off guard.
maybe the pi reference was him saying that no one knows all of pi... so no one knows all the great things that we experience in love.
I like the observation shwayday made on pi.
This song is absolutely fantastic. The chorus is just great.
i think that pi thing was just put in there to fit the ryhme scheme
such a catchy song.
well this song is cool.