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.
Coming out of my cage
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his chest now
He takes off her dress now
Let me go
And I just can't look, it's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr. Brightside
I'm coming out of my cage
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this?
(It was only a kiss), it was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his chest now
He takes off her dress now
Let me go
'Cause I just can't look, it's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibi
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr. Brightside
I never
I never
I never
I never
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his chest now
He takes off her dress now
Let me go
And I just can't look, it's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr. Brightside
I'm coming out of my cage
And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this?
(It was only a kiss), it was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his chest now
He takes off her dress now
Let me go
'Cause I just can't look, it's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibi
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr. Brightside
I never
I never
I never
I never
Lyrics submitted by Linger:, edited by ipseudonym, daster96, jamietags
Mr. Brightside Lyrics as written by Dave Brent Keuning Brandon Flowers
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
Well, now that you mention it it -could- maybe be about a prostitute, but that's not the way i personally interpret the song.
The way i see it is...ok, no idea what the first bit about coming out of his cage is, perhaps that's just him taking a turning point in his life and like gaining confidence and going out and meeting a woman. k, so, yeah, he meets this woman and it "starts out with a kiss" but then he starts falling in love with her when perhaps he shouldnt (maybe he knew that she would not be interested) so he asks himself "how did it end up like this" ie, how could he make the mistake of falling in love with a woman that's only interested in having a spot of fun. --That's just my theory on the first half of the first verse, really.
My main interpretation comes in when it starts to talk about this other man that the woman is spending time with. Now, there are one of two situations this guy is in. 1) Him and this woman have just been seeing each other, she's not attached to him really. However, because he's fallen in love with him, he's angry and upset because he knows that she doesnt want him, and is just going off with 'the next guy on the list'. 2) They are together, and they do want each other, but every time she goes out with other male friends he starts getting jealous and worried. He imagines("and it's all in my head") these other guys getting with her, and it starts "taking control" of his head; that's all he can think about.
(2) seems quite likely to me, it fits in really well with the end of the verse and the whole chorus: the talk about jealousy, sick lullabies - his thoughts&dreams(turned to nightmares by his paranoia) and then he says "but it's just the price i pay" ie, he has to put up with this paranoia if he wants to be with her.
Dunno, i could be -entirely- wrong, but that's just what i think :)
Nice one. I think the 'prostitute' idea came from the Moulin Rouge themed video. He could just have been jealous at a flirtatious girlfriend during the chorus
Jupp, two interpretations which are both kinda likely. The one I had was kind of similar to your second, however i've never thought of it as being his paraoia. Haven't really ackowledged the "and it's all in my head"-part, I think. I've always just seen it as him being cheated on, without being able to leave the relationship cause he loves her too much. But so yeah, nice one, think you pinned it down quite well.<br /> <br /> Ironic that this is such a great partysong, isn't it?
Gotta add something..<br /> <br /> Could "It started out with a kiss/How did it end up like this/It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss" refer to that his gf has kissed someone before, and that this is the reason for him now being so paranoid?
Unless you say something extremely retarded, theres no "wrong" interpretations.<br /> Or should I say, very few.<br /> That's the beauty of music :)
Totally agree with you!! When people get jelous, I beleive it´s because their vulnerable. At 1st the "coming out of my cage..." should be he has everything, but he wants more"got to be down because I want it all" so it could be he´s trying to push a relationship, and he has a one night stand or has a sort of fling with a girl and gets too attached. I don´t see it as a love song... Also he could´ve recently been out of a relationship.. and that´s why he´s "down, and wants it all" to fill those empty spaces... just a thought
Thanks so much for interpreting the song like this, it opened my eyes and now i can't hear the song without thinking of it like this! THANKS :D
I can relate to the feelings, paranoia, and insecurities of the narrator. In the past I have been in a similar place in my life. It sucked. A lot. And the worst thing is: the imaginings were just that: all in my head. But at the time, they were quite intense and affected me a lot.<br /> <br /> And to the poster who said "people get jealous because they are vulnerable", I am persuaded that is absolutely true.
Does it not make more sense that the kiss that he refers to, is actually the kiss where she cheats on him. He is saying "i've been doing just fine, gotta gotta be down" but it (it = the jealously) started out with a kiss and then the rest of the song logically follows on. All paranoia etc comes from that kiss she had with another guy, and how it seems odd that she only a kissed him yet id had such a profound effect on him coz he was so in love...
@MaxQQQ I'm in the exact spot your (2) is right now. I started singing this song randomly in the shower today and I guess it was a strange coincidence that I decided to look up what this song really meant. Now I know where I really am and who I am. I'm Mr. Brightside. <br /> <br /> also follow me on twitter if you find this reply and just dm me about it to remind my future self. @jacktpowell
@MaxQQQ When he says "it starts with a kiss", could he have walked in on her, sees her give a brief kiss to someone else and nothing more but then his imagination takes off?<br />