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.
Ask me again
I’ll take my chances
I don’t know how to begin
You can’t understand
I’ve got no answers
I can’t explain where I've been
I shoulda known better
I shoulda known by now
I shoulda known better
I shoulda known by now
And I feel so free
Yeah I feel alright
Never thought I’d feel
Like I feel tonight
And I feel so free
Yeah I feel alright
Never thought I’d feel
Like I feel tonight
I can’t go back
I can’t imagine
Starting all over again
Try to relax
Get no reaction
There’s just no way to pretend
I shoulda known better
I shoulda known by now
I shoulda known better
I shoulda known by now
And I feel so free
Yeah I feel alright
Never thought I’d feel
Like I feel tonight
And I feel so free
Yeah I feel alright
Never thought I’d feel
Like I feel tonight
I’ll take my chances
I don’t know how to begin
You can’t understand
I’ve got no answers
I can’t explain where I've been
I shoulda known better
I shoulda known by now
I shoulda known better
I shoulda known by now
And I feel so free
Yeah I feel alright
Never thought I’d feel
Like I feel tonight
And I feel so free
Yeah I feel alright
Never thought I’d feel
Like I feel tonight
I can’t go back
I can’t imagine
Starting all over again
Try to relax
Get no reaction
There’s just no way to pretend
I shoulda known better
I shoulda known by now
I shoulda known better
I shoulda known by now
And I feel so free
Yeah I feel alright
Never thought I’d feel
Like I feel tonight
And I feel so free
Yeah I feel alright
Never thought I’d feel
Like I feel tonight
Lyrics submitted by wishin4u
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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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."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
To be free from a lover that's tied you down for too long. But I can't see necessarily prescribing a song meaning to this particular song since it's going to be so different for everyone.
I agree with modernmeggie, to me the song refers to a recent break-up. I even think the other person broke up with the singer because she did something to hurt him, probably cheating. That's why she can't explain where she has been (with someone else). She did not plan for it, can't explain why she did it and knows it was not a very good thing to do, she should have known better. But instead of being sad because of the consequences she feels ok, even free. Maybe she realizes that the reason for her cheating was that she wasn't really happy in the relationship anyway. That is also why it wouldn't make sense to start all over again and fix it, especially because the other person doesn't seem to care so much about it either and shows "no reaction". Could be that they both had doubts before and now they can stop to pretend that it's working and admit to themselves that they just weren't "supposed to be". This honesty as a result of the cheating gives them freedom and feels good.
It's about taking a chance with someone that either you tell yourself or others say you shouldn't be with. You grab at that oppertunity, and you feel better than you ever have before.
Or it's about talking to an old friend about a struggle in your life and feeling so freed by talking about it.
It's about taking a chance with someone that either you tell yourself or others say you shouldn't be with. You grab at that oppertunity, and you feel better than you ever have before.
Or it's about talking to an old friend about a struggle in your life and feeling so freed by talking about it.
To me this song is about how the person took the chance that was given to them, but they just weren't good enough & got rejected. (I should have known better, I should have known by now). But even though the person got rejected, he/she feels better knowing that they did all they can (And I feel so free, yeah I feel all right). They know that they cant go back to living the way they were before, thinking all of those 'what if's'.