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.
A tiny flame inside my head
A compromise I never planned
Unravel out the finest trends
And I'm looking at a blank page now
Should have filled it up with words somehow
I whispered something in her ear
I bare my soul but she don't hear
The scratching of a mellotron
It always seemed to make her cry
Well, maybe she remembers us
Collecting space up in the sky
The scratching of a mellotron (nothing rises from my feet of clay)
(But it's ok)
It always seemed to make her cry (red mist spreads across my fingertips)
(Ardour slips)
I lay her gently on my clove
She will leave me, yes, I know
And I'm looking at a blank page now
Should have filled it up with words somehow
The scratching of a mellotron
It always seemed to make her cry
Well, maybe she remembers us
Collecting space up in the sky
The scratching of a mellotron (nothing rises from my feet of clay)
(But it's ok)
It always seemed to make her cry (red mist spreads across my fingertips)
(Ardour slips)
Well, maybe she remembers us (nothing rises from my feet of clay)
(But it's ok)
Collecting space up in the sky (red mist spreads across my fingertips)
(Ardour slips)
Don't look back into black
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down
Don't look back into black
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down
Don't look back into black (to end as friends)
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down (so painful)
Don't look back into black (to end as friends)
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down (so painful)
Don't look back into black (don't look down, shut it down)
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down (don't look down, shut it down)
Don't look back into black (don't look down, shut it down)
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down (don't look down, shut it down)
Don't look back into black (don't look down, shut it down)
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down (don't look down, shut it down)
A compromise I never planned
Unravel out the finest trends
And I'm looking at a blank page now
Should have filled it up with words somehow
I whispered something in her ear
I bare my soul but she don't hear
The scratching of a mellotron
It always seemed to make her cry
Well, maybe she remembers us
Collecting space up in the sky
The scratching of a mellotron (nothing rises from my feet of clay)
(But it's ok)
It always seemed to make her cry (red mist spreads across my fingertips)
(Ardour slips)
I lay her gently on my clove
She will leave me, yes, I know
And I'm looking at a blank page now
Should have filled it up with words somehow
The scratching of a mellotron
It always seemed to make her cry
Well, maybe she remembers us
Collecting space up in the sky
The scratching of a mellotron (nothing rises from my feet of clay)
(But it's ok)
It always seemed to make her cry (red mist spreads across my fingertips)
(Ardour slips)
Well, maybe she remembers us (nothing rises from my feet of clay)
(But it's ok)
Collecting space up in the sky (red mist spreads across my fingertips)
(Ardour slips)
Don't look back into black
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down
Don't look back into black
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down
Don't look back into black (to end as friends)
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down (so painful)
Don't look back into black (to end as friends)
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down (so painful)
Don't look back into black (don't look down, shut it down)
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down (don't look down, shut it down)
Don't look back into black (don't look down, shut it down)
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down (don't look down, shut it down)
Don't look back into black (don't look down, shut it down)
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down (don't look down, shut it down)
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Light Up The Sky
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
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.
Mountain Song
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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
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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,
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Interesting fact: the mellotron uses taped sound samples, with one magnetic audio tape assigned to each key. Each tape is eight seconds in length, and plays when you press its respective key. It makes a really strange scratching noise when something's wrong with the tape. Otherwise, it sounds like whatever is recorded on them. So "the scratching of a mellotron" doesn't really refer to the sound; it refers to any blatant sign that something's not working properly. That's what's upsetting her.
Also, interestingly, the character of David works in sound design, and probably uses the mellotron in his work. Meaning that the evidence of malfunction/dysfunction may have something to do with his job... perhaps, very literally, a mellotron with a worn-out or caught tape.
Steven has said that this song is about a girl he once knew who cried at the sound of mellotrons. Quite strange if you ask me.
Here's the correct full version:
A tiny flame inside my head A comprimise I never planned Unravel out the finer strands
And I'm looking at a blank page now Should I fill it with words somehow?
I whispered something in her ear I bear my soul but she don't hear
The scratching of a mellotron It always seemed to make her cry Well maybe she remebers us Colllecting space up in the sky
Nothing rises from my feet of clay, but it's OK Red mist spreads across my fingertips, ardour slips
I lay her gently on my clothes She will leave me, yes I know
And I'm looking at a blank page now Should I fill it with words somehow
The scratching of a mellotron It always seemed to make her cry Well maybe she remembers us Collecting space up in the sky
Nothing rises from my feet of clay, but it's OK Red mist spreads across my finger tips, ardour slips Don't look at me with your mother's eyes or your killer smile Sing a lullaby
Don't look back into black Don't let the memory of the sound drag you down To end as friends so painful Don't look down Shut it down
The ending is just... beautiful.
The ending is:
Part 1- Don't look back into black Don't let the memory of the sound drag you down.
Part 2- To end as friends, so painful.
Part 3- Don't look down, shut it down.
oops, I meant "Inside my hand"*
Fit this into it's chronological place in Deadwing, and it'll make more sense, if you also understand the whole ghost story of Deadwing as a whole.
In my head, this song is divided into "Mellotron Scratch" and "Mellotron Scratch (Reprise), making it the only song I know that is its own reprise.
And I like it very much. The keyboard is particularly beautiful.
Steven has said that this song is about a girl he once knew who cried at the sound of mellotrons. Quite strange if you ask me.
I don't think that is,cause I do think the sound of a mellotron is in one way beautiful...It's all about expressions in the music..
I think there's some underlying story to Deadwing... remember Arriving Somewhere, but Not Here? Okay, so here goes...
"The last thing you hear as you're fading out is a song"
Maybe this song had a mellotron in it, and the person narrating that song is the girl in this tale... the mellotron brings her sad memories of the person who died in Arriving. I'm thinking her mother, since the person in this song tells her not to look at him with her mother's eyes.
So maybe this song's guy was in love with her mother at first? Or maybe it's her father speaking?
Speculative thought my dears. Nothing meant one way or another.
And the ending... freaking... ROCKS... a capella is powerful when used correctly!