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.
I don't care if it rains or freezes
Long as I got my plastic Jesus
Sittin' on the dashboard of my car
Comes in colors, pink and pleasant
Glows in the dark, it's iridescent
Take it with you when you travel far
Get yourself a sweet Madonna
Dressed in rhinestone, settin' on a
Pedestal of Abalone Shells
Goin' 90, I ain't scared
'Cause I got the Virgin Mary
Assuring me that I won't go to hell
Long as I got my plastic Jesus
Sittin' on the dashboard of my car
Comes in colors, pink and pleasant
Glows in the dark, it's iridescent
Take it with you when you travel far
Get yourself a sweet Madonna
Dressed in rhinestone, settin' on a
Pedestal of Abalone Shells
Goin' 90, I ain't scared
'Cause I got the Virgin Mary
Assuring me that I won't go to hell
Lyrics submitted by kaleidoscopeeyes8, edited by Mellow_Harsher
★★★★★★★ (Plastic Jesus) Lyrics as written by George Cromarty Ed Rush
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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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.
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I'm not so sure this is originally a flaming lips song, I'm almost sure it's not. This version of it however is pretty cool, very chill
I'm not so sure this is originally a flaming lips song, I'm almost sure it's not. This version of it however is pretty cool, very chill
This isn't originally by the Lips, I was trying to figure out where it came from. I know it's an old song because Paul Newman sang it exactly like this when he found out his mother died in Cool Hand Luke. I think of that movie everytime I hear this song. Which is a good thing.
billy idol maybe?
Its in the movie Cool Hand Luke, which just happens to be one of the greatest movies ever. Paul Newman sings it when he finds out his mom dies.
the levellers did a version of this song, and its amazing btw... listen to the levellers yes
I think that the meaning of the song in the movie (Cool Hand Luke) is so much deeper than the actual song itself.
It's like all of the sudden he finds himself in need of an emotional outlet, but he reaches down all that he can pull back up is this song. And then he has to get out of there.
I didn't know of this song until I heard it from Paul Newman from the great movie "Cool Hand Luke". I actually heard the song before I saw the movie and loved it and then I saw the movie and of course in the scene in which he cries after the death of his mother brought so much more meaning to the song and its relevance in the movie and in that certain moment.
What I know is that it's not at all originally The Flaming Lips' song. It was written back in the 50's and is a folk song that has been rewritten and re-sung countless times by so many different people. According to Wikipedia: "Ed Rush and George Cromarty wrote the song in 1957 and recorded it (as a humorous ad spoof) in 1962 as The Goldcoast Singers" and "The authorship of the song has historically been incorrectly attributed to Ernie Marrs." And it's supposedly Ernie Marrs' version of the song that had been used for CHL. Then the Flaming Lips covered it, though I'm not sure if they changed any of the lyrics. I hope to hear other versions and any of the older less-rewritten ones.