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.
Breakin' my back just to know your name
Seventeen tracks and I've had it with this game
A breakin' my back just to know your name
But Heaven ain't close in a place like this
Anything goes but don't blink, you might miss
'Cause Heaven ain't close in a place like this
I said Heaven ain't close in a place like this
Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight (hoo hoo)
Never thought I'd let a rumor ruin my moonlight
Well somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
Ready let's roll onto something new
Takin' it's toll then I'm leaving without you
'Cause Heaven ain't close in a place like this
I said Heaven ain't close in a place like this
Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight (hoo hoo)
Never thought I'd let a rumor ruin my moonlight
Well somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
A rushing, rushing around
Pace yourself for me (for me)
I said maybe, baby, please (please)
But I just don't know now (baby, baby)
When all I want to do is try
Well somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
A rushing, rushing around
Now somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
A rushing, rushing around
Somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
A rushing, rushing around
Seventeen tracks and I've had it with this game
A breakin' my back just to know your name
But Heaven ain't close in a place like this
Anything goes but don't blink, you might miss
'Cause Heaven ain't close in a place like this
I said Heaven ain't close in a place like this
Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight (hoo hoo)
Never thought I'd let a rumor ruin my moonlight
Well somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
Ready let's roll onto something new
Takin' it's toll then I'm leaving without you
'Cause Heaven ain't close in a place like this
I said Heaven ain't close in a place like this
Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight (hoo hoo)
Never thought I'd let a rumor ruin my moonlight
Well somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
A rushing, rushing around
Pace yourself for me (for me)
I said maybe, baby, please (please)
But I just don't know now (baby, baby)
When all I want to do is try
Well somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
A rushing, rushing around
Now somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
A rushing, rushing around
Somebody told me you had a boyfriend
Who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential, I've got potential
A rushing, rushing around
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More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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,
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/
Being a musician and having spent countless hours "Breakin' my back" just to come up with the name of a song. I can honestly say that it can be hell (Heaven ai't close in a place like this). After recording "Seveteen tracks" you get tired of the game, especially the ones management nd producers play.
"Anything goes but don't blink, you might miss" Even after hours recording you have to stay alert or you will screw up a track.
"Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight" Get your groove going on the track you're recording "Never thought I'd let a rumor ruin my moonlight" When recording don't let your thoughts become side tracked.
The chorus is a metaphor. After spending hours on a song, somebody told you the song sounds too much like like a song that was written by another artist. "It's not confidential" it's been playing on the radio. But don't worry, with a bit of re-write your song as potential. "[Chorus] Well somebody told me you had a boyfriend Who looked like a girlfriend That I had in February of last year It's not confidential, I've got potential"
Ready let's roll onto something new (Move to the next track) Takin' it's toll then I'm leaving without you (Just too burned out to finish a tune) because it's been hell "Cause heaven ain't close in a place like this"
"A rushing, rushing around" meeting the demands of the record label. "Pace yourself for me - I said maybe, baby, please" Trying to buy time from the label. "But I just don't know now - When all I want to do is try" After awhile you do want to give up bu something inside keeps driving you.
Studio work isn't al fun and ames...
This is definitely the best interpretation I've seen so far. Like igywigie said, the "seventeen tracks" line is pretty much a giveaway.<br /> <br /> I know that feeling of writing something, only to realize a few weeks later that it sounds uncannily similar to another artist's tune. The more years that pass, the more music is made and the fewer original melodies we'll have..maybe that's why so much of the music and movies industries are comprised of rehashes nowadays.
@itsmymusic Seems forced. Especially when you are implying that one line is literal in the entire song while everything else is metaphorical.
@itsmymusic The setting is a club, not a studio. How did this get voted to the top?
I don't know where the whole drug thing is coming from. The lyrics are pretty straightforward:
"Breakin' my back just to know your name Seventeen tracks and I've had it with this game A breakin' my back just to know your name But heaven ain't close in a place like this Anything goes but don't blink, you might miss 'Cause heaven ain't close in a place like this I said heaven ain't close in a place like this Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight Never thought I'd let a rumor ruin my moonlight
I have been trying very hard to catch your attention. Seventeen songs have past and I am tired of trying. Seriously, I blink and you're already talking to someone else. It's pretty much hell being ignored by you
Well somebody told me you had a boyfriend Who looked like a girlfriend That I had in February of last year It's not confidential, I've got potential
(Speaking franticly and with a panic) so our past relationships have been people who look very similar. Clearly we have some sort of connection. (Which he says because he is running out of time)
Ready let's roll onto something new Takin' it's toll then I'm leaving without you 'Cause heaven ain't close in a place like this I said heaven ain't close in a place like this Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight Never thought I'd let a rumor ruin my moonlight
I'm trying to get over the fact that you left without me (either alone or with someone else perhaps).
Nevertheless, I liked you and it is painful knowing I lost you. This place is still hell.
The most sensible interpretation I've ever read.
Because people on drugs think every song is about drugs.
@victorlost Given the rest of the lyrics, it seems rather reasonable to assume the "Never thought I'd let a rumor ruin my moonlight", is talking about the guy getting into a bad mood because he heard the girl he's trying to get the attention/affection of is into girls and not guys. Definitely more sensible interpretation than trying to say the song is about making music. It could be both though. Although it seems to fit the one better than the other and requires a bit of stretching to argue it is about making music.
... Am I the only one that thinks that this song is about him being shot down? It sounds to me like he's saying she's a lesbian because he's embarrassed that she's not interested in him.
"Heaven ain't close in a place like this" I always heard it as him being at a sleazy bar. "Breakin' my back just to know your name" Trying to get her to be interested in him, but she keeps rebuffing him. "You have a boyfriend who looks like a girlfriend that I had..." Insinuating she's going out with a girl. Obviously this girl isn't going out with him anymore, so that could be part of it too. "Rushing, rushing around" He's telling people she's a lesbian so he doesn't have to admit he got shot down.
ok, i really hope this someone else reads this. THIS SONG IS NOT ABOUT A GIRL, OR GUY!!!
This song is, oddly enough about, WRITING SONGS. dead give away with "17 tracks and ive had it with this game."
Breaking my back....makes more sense in context with the chorus Its not about a feminite man, or androgeny. Its an illustration that what is cool/hip/trendy today maybe totally passed in a few months. Musical trends are moving so fast that what is sexy for a man today may be feminine in the future.
Breaking my back to know your name. means its hard to keep up with what fast musical changes today. musical fads are moving 100 mph
Dont blink you might miss. If you dont jump on the bandwagon your chance/15 minutes. might just pass you
heaven aint close in a place like this......well u can prolly figure this out now. that heaven aint close to them in Las vegas, sin city. All the killers did wasgive the people pop crap that they want to hear, theres no heaven for anyone who delivers hits by "the forumla."
Its almost like incubus song megalomaniac "your no jesus, your no elvis." the killers are also well aware they havent dont anything to be highly merited.
Anything goes in a place like this.....with this fast back breaking musicalpace its almost like any crap that a band comes up with can get played.
To me, this song embodies the Marxist manifesto through the ironic lens of a capitalist rebel in a communist state. By utilizing this point-of-view, the artist is able to fabricate a sense of empathy between the listener and the capitalist rebel, thus emphasizing the absurdity of capitalism as compared to efficient communism. Through literary elements such as verisimilitude and metaphor, the author promotes communism through unorthodox means.
"Breaking my back just to know your name" first and foremost describes the character in a struggling position. Desperate to discover his own identity, he begs the acknowledgement and affirmation of those around him. In this way, the author displays the overwhelming anonymity of the communist system. Though efficient, the homogeneous structure of communism feels oppressive to freedom fighters, who declare that "heaven ain't close in a place like this". The character thus feels dread in despair, afraid that his dreams may never come to pass. To cope with this, he drinks copious amounts of vodka in the gulag. When he does so, he tells the others to 'Bring [your cups] back down, bring [them] back down tonight". This illegal alcohol, or "moonshine", is again referenced when the author mentions how he "never thought [he'd] let a rumor ruin his moonlight (moonshine)". The rumor, in this case, is communism. Delirious and almost mad with desire, the character convinces himself that the system is indeed a myth. a fabrication of hearsay and gossip.
The sentiment of anonymity culminates in the first chorus, when the author describes the "boyfriend who look[s] like a girlfriend". The juxtaposition of the two genders emphasizes that the author cannot tell the difference between the two disparate groups. In this way, the artist demonstrates the sweeping power of communism over nature - under it, all are equal, and none stand out. The February, at first thought, seems to refer to valentine's day. However, it actually refers to the communist-infused revolution, the "February Revolution". This event, which resulted in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, sparked radical change in the Russian system. In the same way, the artist reflects on how, before February, his life was more peaceful and simple. But everything changed when the fire nation attacked.
The speaker embodies capitalist, and (in the context of communism) rebellious ideals. He states that "It's not confidential, I've got potential". The author, then, truly believes in a future, one where he is free to do as he wishes. This sentiment is reflective of the capitalist mindset, which teaches children to dream and achieve, and ultimately to be who they wish to be. The next half of the chorus is the artist talking to himself, repeating the same ideas.
In "Somebody Told Me" by The Killers, the artist takes on the persona of a capitalist supporter amidst a communist state. Through description, comparison, and metaphor, he fabricates a believable sense of awe for the power of communism, which sweeps across the nation and stops for none. The artist, it seems, is the only one who recognizes the the government in its most primitive form draws power from the population, and thus without the people the communism, and thus the illusion, must fall.
I thought he was trying to insult his ex when he said "You had a boyfriend Who looked like a girlfriend That I had in February of last year" It seems like he's kind of trying to make fun of her by telling her that her boyfriend looks like a girl. I dont know, just my opinion.
it's 'bout cross-dressing, don't yah know...
I'd say...he's having a good time with this girl but he has heard a rumor of her previous boyfriend and its nagging his mind (thereby ruining his moonlight). Somebody told him that her ex boyfriend looks like a girl he dated February of last year. This rumor keeps "rushing around" his head. He's confounded. He's wondering if this guy is the same girl he was dating, or if it's someone else. If it's the same girl he dated, then is this person transgender or a cross-dresser? These thoughts keep him from having a good time with the girl and now he's not sure if he wants to be with her or not.
Well, I have to say this is one of my favorite songs because it's rockin' and the lyrics are so intriguing. I'm a psych nurse and this is my take: the basic premise is this guy is freaking out because he heard this girl had a boyfriend that looks like someone he was dating last February. He is going round and round with all the possibilites of could she have been bisexual or transgender or really a guy trying to pass as a girl. He's trying to calm himself down and shrug it off as really OK. Basically, the rumors are it's the same person and they do look enough alike that he believes it to be true. He's just going nuts trying to figure the gender out and questions his own judgement.
Your explanation sounds way better! Not saying that because of your profession either, it just makes the most sense :)
From an interview of Brandon Flowers as published by Entertainment Weekly (Circa 2013): “Somebody Told Me” (2004) “We were going out to clubs a lot at the time. I think it speaks to a young man’s frustration, the difficulty of picking up girls. [Laughs] That’s probably where it stems from. I was just able to run with it, and the band supplied a wonderful backing track.”