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.
We all knew this day was coming
Our bitter hearts can hear it calling
So proud of what you've done, so proud of who you are
Standing tall next to all the buildings
And filling up will all the reasons why you should never trust yourself
The way to fool yourself... I'm fooled.
It's those nights alone when you're driving
And the sky just looks a little funny
You're thinking of the worst, you figure out the worst
Right after you figure it all out,
You find a way to straighten your head out
But what if you're wrong and the world is adding up
It's throwing signs from random places
To keep you at your toes so you don't figure it out
Before you figure it out
We fall to our knees and beg
The words are gone
It's just a thought
And we fall and we fall
And we fall to our knees
And we fall and we fall
[Our bitter hearts can hear it calling
So proud of what we've done.]
Our bitter hearts can hear it calling
So proud of what you've done, so proud of who you are
Standing tall next to all the buildings
And filling up will all the reasons why you should never trust yourself
The way to fool yourself... I'm fooled.
It's those nights alone when you're driving
And the sky just looks a little funny
You're thinking of the worst, you figure out the worst
Right after you figure it all out,
You find a way to straighten your head out
But what if you're wrong and the world is adding up
It's throwing signs from random places
To keep you at your toes so you don't figure it out
Before you figure it out
We fall to our knees and beg
The words are gone
It's just a thought
And we fall and we fall
And we fall to our knees
And we fall and we fall
[Our bitter hearts can hear it calling
So proud of what we've done.]
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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,
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"WHAT HAVE I DONE!?" is basically what this song is crying out to me. The Higher Being is testing me to see what decisions i make in a time of crisis, but i go and fool myself to be someone iM not and well, what a decision you've made! "WHAT HAVE I DONE!?"