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.
Times were so tough, but not as tough as they are now
We were so close and nothing came between us, and the world
No personal situations
Thick as thieves us, we'd stick together for all time
And we meant it but it turns out just for a while
We stole, the friendship that bound us together
We stole from the schools and their libraries
We stole from the drugs that sent us to sleep
We stole from the drink that made us sick
We stole anything that we couldn't keep
And it was enough, we didn't have to spoil anything
And always be as thick as thieves
Like a perfect stranger, you came into my life
Then like the perfect lone ranger, you rode away, rode away
Rode away, rode away
We stole the love from young girls in ivory towers
We stole autumn leaves and summer showers
We stole the silent wind that says you are free
We stole everything that we could see
But it wasn't enough, and now we've gone and spoiled everything
Now we're no longer as thick as thieves
You came into my life
Then like a perfect stranger you walked away, walked away
Walked away, walked away
Thick as thieves us, we'd stick together for all time
And we meant it but it turns out just for awhile
We stole the friendship that bound us together
We stole the burning sun in the open sky
We stole the twinkling stars in the black night
We stole the green belt fields that made us believe
We stole everything that we could see
But something came along that changes our minds (we're no longer thick as thieves)
I don't know what and I don't know why (we're not thick as we used to be)
But we seemed to grow up in a flash of time (we're no longer thick as thieves)
While we watched our ideals helplessly unwind (we're not thick as we used to be)
No, we're no longer as thick as thieves, no
We're not as thick as we used to be, no
We're no longer as thick as thieves, no
We're not as thick as we used to be
No it wasn't enough, and now we've gone and spoiled everything
Now we're no longer as thick as thieves
We were so close and nothing came between us, and the world
No personal situations
Thick as thieves us, we'd stick together for all time
And we meant it but it turns out just for a while
We stole, the friendship that bound us together
We stole from the schools and their libraries
We stole from the drugs that sent us to sleep
We stole from the drink that made us sick
We stole anything that we couldn't keep
And it was enough, we didn't have to spoil anything
And always be as thick as thieves
Like a perfect stranger, you came into my life
Then like the perfect lone ranger, you rode away, rode away
Rode away, rode away
We stole the love from young girls in ivory towers
We stole autumn leaves and summer showers
We stole the silent wind that says you are free
We stole everything that we could see
But it wasn't enough, and now we've gone and spoiled everything
Now we're no longer as thick as thieves
You came into my life
Then like a perfect stranger you walked away, walked away
Walked away, walked away
Thick as thieves us, we'd stick together for all time
And we meant it but it turns out just for awhile
We stole the friendship that bound us together
We stole the burning sun in the open sky
We stole the twinkling stars in the black night
We stole the green belt fields that made us believe
We stole everything that we could see
But something came along that changes our minds (we're no longer thick as thieves)
I don't know what and I don't know why (we're not thick as we used to be)
But we seemed to grow up in a flash of time (we're no longer thick as thieves)
While we watched our ideals helplessly unwind (we're not thick as we used to be)
No, we're no longer as thick as thieves, no
We're not as thick as we used to be, no
We're no longer as thick as thieves, no
We're not as thick as we used to be
No it wasn't enough, and now we've gone and spoiled everything
Now we're no longer as thick as thieves
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Light Up The Sky
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
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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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
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How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Dave Waller