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.
That's the way you know the story goes
Between euphoria and the afterglow
I don't believe in what the good book says
I close my eyes and then I go to bed
With funny memories and a broken nose
Lots of baggage and not much clothes
The shrink the gypsy the poet the priest
Everybody wants to be released
And I know time was gonna change us
So slow life would rearrange us
Lately it's alright
Down here with me
People at midnight pretend their free
Maybe it's all gone
I'm holding on
Ooh it ain't so funny after all
Ooh it ain't so funny after all we've been through
Ooh it ain't so funny after all
That's the way you know the story goes
A box of flowers decompose
And you and me you know we don't talk much
It's hard to handle something you can't touch
And I know time was gonna change us
Lately it's alright
Down here with me
People at midnight pretend their free
Maybe it's all gone
I'm holding on
How was I to know
The future's black as coal?
How was I to see if you were still with me?
Downliner
Down to the sea
Downliner
Down here with me
Downliner
Between euphoria and the afterglow
I don't believe in what the good book says
I close my eyes and then I go to bed
With funny memories and a broken nose
Lots of baggage and not much clothes
The shrink the gypsy the poet the priest
Everybody wants to be released
And I know time was gonna change us
So slow life would rearrange us
Lately it's alright
Down here with me
People at midnight pretend their free
Maybe it's all gone
I'm holding on
Ooh it ain't so funny after all
Ooh it ain't so funny after all we've been through
Ooh it ain't so funny after all
That's the way you know the story goes
A box of flowers decompose
And you and me you know we don't talk much
It's hard to handle something you can't touch
And I know time was gonna change us
Lately it's alright
Down here with me
People at midnight pretend their free
Maybe it's all gone
I'm holding on
How was I to know
The future's black as coal?
How was I to see if you were still with me?
Downliner
Down to the sea
Downliner
Down here with me
Downliner
Lyrics submitted by GoKillMice
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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.
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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.
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“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.
This is a song about life and death. In the first verses it says that death is quite simply the end of life "I close my eyes and then I go to bed". Malin doesn't believe in the promise of another life "I don't believe in what the good book says" i.e. the Bible.
The next verses are about his views on life, there are good and bad things, "funny memories and a broken nose", and all that remains are memories, not posessions "lots of baggage and not much clothes" (this is very elegantly expressed). He also seems to be tired of such life, he seeks death in some way, and thinks everybody else feels the same way regardless of their background: "The shrink the gypsy the poet the priest Everybody wants to be released"
The next verses are perhaps aimed to explain how such views and feelings emerged. He talks probably to a woman with whom he could not fullfill a relationship, and fears time will change his feelings for her: "And I know time was gonna change us, So slow life would rearrange us".
He realizes the pointlessness of partying and seeking hapiness elsewhere and comes to a certain aceptance of such pointlessness: "Lately it's alright;Down here with me; People at midnight pretend their free". And he begins to realize there is no hope for his love: "Maybe it's all gone", but he is not prepared to fully accept it "I'm holding on".
What he previously saw as entertaining drama now seems too painful: "Ooh it ain't so funny after all; Ooh it ain't so funny after all we've been through; Ooh it ain't so funny after all".
And so his thoughts return to death and the ephemeral nature of love and life: "That's the way you know the story goes; A box of flowers decompose". And he laments that he no longer is close to the woman he loves: "And you and me you know we don't talk much", but how could he be close to her if he would have to ignore his feelings or keep them controlled? "It's hard to handle something you can't touch". This is also very elegantly expressed.
Then the verses about his fear of his love ending are repeated.
He thinks he is not wrong in having loved her (or at least not to be blamed): "How was I to know; The future's black as coal?". And he wonders how things would have come out if she was with him "How was I to see if you were still with me?".
He concludes in spiraling resignation (the thought of death):
Downliner Down to the sea Downliner Down here with me Downliner
The word downliner is mysterious to me, though it seems to describes his view of himself. I love this song.
this song is fantastic. probably about looking back on a failed relationship. it's also hard to look back on it though because he still has feelings for her and he wonders if it could have worked.