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.
Dance to the beat of the living dead
You'll see baby, stay away from there
Raw power is sure to come a-runnin' to you
If you're alone and you got the feel
So am I baby let's roll on outta here
Raw power is sure to come a-runnin' to you
Raw power's got a magic touch
Raw power is much too much
Happiness is a guaranteed
It was made for you and me
Raw power, honey, just won't quit
Raw power, I can feel it
Raw power, hear it, can't be spared
Poppin' eyes and a fashion feed
Don't you try, don't you try to tell me what to do
I was tryin', I was tryin' a tell ya what to do
And you know that ain't right
I look in the eyes of the seventh girl
Fall deep in love in the underworld
Raw power is sure to come a-runnin' to you
If you're alone and you got the shakes
So am I baby and I got what it takes
Raw power is sure to come a-runnin' to you
Raw power's got a healing hand
Raw power can destroy a man
Raw power is so more than soul
Got a son called rock and roll
Raw power, honey, just won't quit
Raw power, I can feel it
Raw power honey, give me a spin
Get up baby and kiss my feet
Ev'rybody always tryin' a tell me what to do
Don't you try, don't you try to tell me what to do
Ev'rybody always tryin' a tell me what to do
Don't you try, don't you try to tell me what to do
Raw power it's got no place to go
Raw power honey, you don't want to know
Raw power is a guaranteed O.D.
Raw power is a laughin' at you and me
I want to know
Can you feel it?
Can you feel it?
Can you feel it?
Can you feel it?
Raw power
Raw power
Can you feel it?
Can you feel it?
You'll see baby, stay away from there
Raw power is sure to come a-runnin' to you
If you're alone and you got the feel
So am I baby let's roll on outta here
Raw power is sure to come a-runnin' to you
Raw power's got a magic touch
Raw power is much too much
Happiness is a guaranteed
It was made for you and me
Raw power, honey, just won't quit
Raw power, I can feel it
Raw power, hear it, can't be spared
Poppin' eyes and a fashion feed
Don't you try, don't you try to tell me what to do
I was tryin', I was tryin' a tell ya what to do
And you know that ain't right
I look in the eyes of the seventh girl
Fall deep in love in the underworld
Raw power is sure to come a-runnin' to you
If you're alone and you got the shakes
So am I baby and I got what it takes
Raw power is sure to come a-runnin' to you
Raw power's got a healing hand
Raw power can destroy a man
Raw power is so more than soul
Got a son called rock and roll
Raw power, honey, just won't quit
Raw power, I can feel it
Raw power honey, give me a spin
Get up baby and kiss my feet
Ev'rybody always tryin' a tell me what to do
Don't you try, don't you try to tell me what to do
Ev'rybody always tryin' a tell me what to do
Don't you try, don't you try to tell me what to do
Raw power it's got no place to go
Raw power honey, you don't want to know
Raw power is a guaranteed O.D.
Raw power is a laughin' at you and me
I want to know
Can you feel it?
Can you feel it?
Can you feel it?
Can you feel it?
Raw power
Raw power
Can you feel it?
Can you feel it?
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
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