Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
Hear!
From this day forth
are the heights of Horeb broken
and the sea of sulphur
- ice.
And blasphemy!
in heaven`s chambers:
Souls had fled their halls
and closed was the book of life.
And behold!
The great, white throne:
black
with sacred blood.
Our father -
Dead by his own hands:
an epitaph
worthy no king
And so is everything
a nameless lie.
Who, my god,
am I?
Man knows me
as Lucifer, the serpent of old
The wretched hold my banner high.
Your gift
- all life! -
I grant the grave.
Yet I am not your death
Come carry forth the crown
to your once held throne.
Here is where my suffering should cease
- but alas: I am crowned
in grief unheard of!
In this lone monarchy
- without friend or foe -
I greet the morning sun
with strife and a song:
Please speak my name!
And leave me not
in the dust of death
I am weighed down
beneath the tragedy crown, -
nameless
and alone,
a fatherless son.
From this day forth
are the heights of Horeb broken
and the sea of sulphur
- ice.
And blasphemy!
in heaven`s chambers:
Souls had fled their halls
and closed was the book of life.
And behold!
The great, white throne:
black
with sacred blood.
Our father -
Dead by his own hands:
an epitaph
worthy no king
And so is everything
a nameless lie.
Who, my god,
am I?
Man knows me
as Lucifer, the serpent of old
The wretched hold my banner high.
Your gift
- all life! -
I grant the grave.
Yet I am not your death
Come carry forth the crown
to your once held throne.
Here is where my suffering should cease
- but alas: I am crowned
in grief unheard of!
In this lone monarchy
- without friend or foe -
I greet the morning sun
with strife and a song:
Please speak my name!
And leave me not
in the dust of death
I am weighed down
beneath the tragedy crown, -
nameless
and alone,
a fatherless son.
Lyrics submitted by EerieOompaLoompa
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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.
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Thursday
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.
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
It's about the throne that God is said to sit upon during the final judgment.
Horeb / Sinai: The Mountain of Moses and burning bush