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.
That crucial filament is all but spent
And soon it will be dark in my basement
My heart is waxing the slick floor again
Hoping I'll slip, and fall in love
Well, she gave me the choice
To remain and rejoice, or to recoil and rebel
Well, Papa, this gravity attack
Yeah, it's a gravity attack
And I can't seem to carry, much less bury the past
Well, your ex-girlfriend said I was a terrible mess
Yeah, she's got a real good head on her shoulders
When the singer spoke and confessed
He didn't really smoke cigarettes
She said her teenage brother smouldered
On a hotbed of coal in a sterile white room
Underneath that Joy Division poster
He moaned, "Papa," he moaned, "Papa
Sometimes I gotta vent my spleen
Sometimes I gotta vent my spleen
When I get shattered in the heart
And scattered in the brain"
Well, all the medicine in these sermons
Still can't keep his brazen nose from turning
And salvation, it may come free of charge
But faith always costs him something
They say there's nothing as sacred
As the blood between brothers
When it's pricked from their thumbs
And exchanged beneath the covers
Well, Papa, my brother is gone!
Yeah, my brother is gone!
So would you tell me now how it is
I'm supposed to get along?
Well, you asked for a chorus but you got a refrain
Yeah, it's another sad song that moves like a train
You can't whistle to it
But you can fast-forward through it
Flick it off your shoulder like dead skin
They say my head on a plate
May curve the debate
About the unbearable high cost of living
But Papa, everything falls apart!
Everything falls apart
And the grass will grow
As surely as they'll break your heart
And soon it will be dark in my basement
My heart is waxing the slick floor again
Hoping I'll slip, and fall in love
Well, she gave me the choice
To remain and rejoice, or to recoil and rebel
Well, Papa, this gravity attack
Yeah, it's a gravity attack
And I can't seem to carry, much less bury the past
Well, your ex-girlfriend said I was a terrible mess
Yeah, she's got a real good head on her shoulders
When the singer spoke and confessed
He didn't really smoke cigarettes
She said her teenage brother smouldered
On a hotbed of coal in a sterile white room
Underneath that Joy Division poster
He moaned, "Papa," he moaned, "Papa
Sometimes I gotta vent my spleen
Sometimes I gotta vent my spleen
When I get shattered in the heart
And scattered in the brain"
Well, all the medicine in these sermons
Still can't keep his brazen nose from turning
And salvation, it may come free of charge
But faith always costs him something
They say there's nothing as sacred
As the blood between brothers
When it's pricked from their thumbs
And exchanged beneath the covers
Well, Papa, my brother is gone!
Yeah, my brother is gone!
So would you tell me now how it is
I'm supposed to get along?
Well, you asked for a chorus but you got a refrain
Yeah, it's another sad song that moves like a train
You can't whistle to it
But you can fast-forward through it
Flick it off your shoulder like dead skin
They say my head on a plate
May curve the debate
About the unbearable high cost of living
But Papa, everything falls apart!
Everything falls apart
And the grass will grow
As surely as they'll break your heart
Lyrics submitted by mixedtape
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
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.
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
Well I'm not sure if it's the proper version, I have a live version, and he screws up at "Still can't keep his brazen nose from turning" and forgets the next line, (try and find that version if you can, Conor is to DIE for when he messes up there) He starts saying "Sorry, theres a lot of words to this song" and tries again. Then when he still cant get it he says like " and-aw-ah fuck. sorry! sorry wait, wait. I wanna finish this one. I-I'm gonna finish this one." and then he gets the next line and continues. I DIED when I heard it I couldnt breathe. this song is great, and I love the songs they choose to cover, it always ends up sounding amazing.
here's a correctly spelt (and slightly lyrically corrected) version:
that crucial filament is all but spent and soon it will be dark in my basement my heart is waxing the slick floor again hoping i'll slip, and fall in love well, she gave me the choice to remain and rejoice or to recoil and rebel well, papa, this gravity attack yeah, it's a gravity attack and i can't seem to carry, much less bury the past
well, your ex-girlfriend said i was a terrible mess yeah, she's got a real good head on her shoulders when the singer spoke and confessed he didn't really smoke cigarettes, she said her teenage brother smouldered on a hotbed of coal in a sterile white room underneath that joy division poster he moaned papa, he moaned papa, sometimes i gotta vent my spleen! sometimes i gotta vent my spleen when i get shattered in the heart and scattered in the brain
well, all the medicine in these sermons still can't keep his brazen nose from turning and salvation, it may come free of charge but faith always costs him something they say there's nothing as sacred as the blood between brothers when it's pricked from their thumbs and exchanged beneath the covers well, papa, my brother is gone! yeah, my brother is gone!
so would you tell me now how it is i'm supposed to get along?
well, you asked for a chorus but you got a refrain yeah, it's another sad song that moves like a train you can't whistle to it but you can fast-forward through it flick it off your shoulder like dead skin
they say my head on a plate may curve the debate about the unbearable high cost of living but papa, everything falls apart! everything falls apart and the grass will grow as surely as they'll break your heart
There was a band Joy Division, but you already knew that.
I haven't heard this song but i love the band joy division does conor like them.there so good but the lead singer suffered from epilipsy and hung himself in the early 80's.
it's a cover of a simon joyner song, anyway.
Connor Oberst doesn't like music.
well, just what he steals I guess.
Okay, we'll go with that.
Simon Joyner is such an excellent writer, and Conor's voice suits this song so perfectly. Everytime he blurts out "papa..." it gives me chills. If you've heard this cover, you know exactly what I mean. If not, you should hear it; because it's so beautiful.
by the way, does anyone know where i can get hold of the simon joyner version of this song?
i have the live version too, its really good.