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.
Last night, I
Leveled with the angels
They were everywhere
There was nothing I could do
Wasn't their call
We entered the house greeted
By a stranger who
Who would soon replace ours
And right away I knew I was entering
A place of uncertainty and disdain.
Why is father on the phone?
Did he notice her withering hand
Or is it something she said?
Up this flight of stairs how dare
I enter this room and this house.
I descend in
To a room down the hall
My hands are shaking I must
Reason with the angels.
They will understand
They will see the tears
Tell everyone
I can make them let her go
And right away I knew I was entering
A place of uncertainty and disdain.
Why is father on the phone?
Did he notice her withering hand
Or is it something she said?
Up this flight of stairs how dare
I enter this room and this house.
And this house.
She's in heaven now
And this house couldn't work as a cage
For an angel
Now it's me
I've got to let go
To a place of uncertainty and disdain.
Why is father on the phone?
Did he notice her withering hand
Or is it something she said?
Up this flight of stairs how dare
I enter this room on the phone?
Did he notice her withering hand
Or is it something she said?
Up this flight of stairs how dare
I enter this room and this house
Leveled with the angels
They were everywhere
There was nothing I could do
Wasn't their call
We entered the house greeted
By a stranger who
Who would soon replace ours
And right away I knew I was entering
A place of uncertainty and disdain.
Why is father on the phone?
Did he notice her withering hand
Or is it something she said?
Up this flight of stairs how dare
I enter this room and this house.
I descend in
To a room down the hall
My hands are shaking I must
Reason with the angels.
They will understand
They will see the tears
Tell everyone
I can make them let her go
And right away I knew I was entering
A place of uncertainty and disdain.
Why is father on the phone?
Did he notice her withering hand
Or is it something she said?
Up this flight of stairs how dare
I enter this room and this house.
And this house.
She's in heaven now
And this house couldn't work as a cage
For an angel
Now it's me
I've got to let go
To a place of uncertainty and disdain.
Why is father on the phone?
Did he notice her withering hand
Or is it something she said?
Up this flight of stairs how dare
I enter this room on the phone?
Did he notice her withering hand
Or is it something she said?
Up this flight of stairs how dare
I enter this room and this house
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
i love this band...i seem to be the only one...anyway, this song is about how someone in his family died and he can't seem to face reality. then he finally realizes she is gone in heaven and he is the one that needs to let her go and face reality. so sad, ive been there
yeah, this band does own....hmm, just so you know youre not the only one :-p. anyways, this guys voice is incredible.
this is one of the best bands ever, the lyrics are so well done and it sounds amazing. They need to release another c.d. I"m surprised more people don't know about them...
These guys deserve more hype.. Excellent music and simply touching lyrics... Lost my dad this year and can definitely relate to this..
This gave me some images in my mind . I def. seen something about a loved one dieng and the pain that goes along with letting go .Very Sad...
I agree with all of you.
And they totally need more hype. Put a music video on MTV or something. People watch MTV, right? :)
I agree w/ the person who said the song gave them images, it did that for me too. It's about loss and letting go. Such a beautiful song, my favorite of theirs. I like so many of the lyrics, but my favorite part is when he says "now it's me, I've got to let go."
Just stay in my arms
[Verse 1]
Last night I leveled with the angels They were everywhere And there was nothing I could do It wasn't their call We entered the house greeted By a stranger who would soon replace ours
[Pre-chorus]
And right away I knew I was entering Into a place of uncertainty and disdain
[Chorus]
Why is father On the phone did he notice Her withering hand or is it something she said Up this flight of stairs how we dare I enter this room and this house
[Verse 2]
I descend into a room down the hall My hands are shaking I must reason with the angels They will understand They will see the tears Tell everyone I can make them let her go
[Pre-chorus]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Crying out She's in Heaven now And this house couldn't work as a cage for an angel Now it's me I've got to let go
Just stay in my arms
[Verse 1]
Last night I leveled with the angels They were everywhere And there was nothing I could do It wasn't their call We entered the house greeted By a stranger who would soon replace ours
[Pre-chorus]
And right away I knew I was entering Into a place of uncertainty and disdain
[Chorus]
Why is father On the phone did he notice Her withering hand or is it something she said Up this flight of stairs how we dare I enter this room and this house
[Verse 2]
I descend into a room down the hall My hands are shaking I must reason with the angels They will understand They will see the tears Tell everyone I can make them let her go
[Pre-chorus]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Crying out She's in Heaven now And this house couldn't work as a cage for an angel Now it's me I've got to let go
can someone help me figure out what exactly the Chorus is supposed to mean
Why is father On the phone did he notice Her withering hand or is it something she said Up this flight of stairs how we dare I enter this room and this house
I don't really get this part.