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.
So let's face it this was never what you wanted
And I know it's fun to pretend
Now, blank stares and empty threats
Are all I have
They're all I have
So drown me and if you can
Or we could just have conversation
And I fall, I fall, I falter
But I found you, before I drift away
Now you still speak of day old hate
Though your whole world has gone up into flames
And isn't it great to find that you're really worth nothing
And how safe it is to feel safe
So drown me and if you can
Or we could just have conversation
And I fall, I fall, I fall down
But I found you, before I drift away
The things we do just to stay alive
The things we do just to stay alive
The things we do just to stay alive
The things we do just to keep ourselves alive
And I know it's fun to pretend
Now, blank stares and empty threats
Are all I have
They're all I have
So drown me and if you can
Or we could just have conversation
And I fall, I fall, I falter
But I found you, before I drift away
Now you still speak of day old hate
Though your whole world has gone up into flames
And isn't it great to find that you're really worth nothing
And how safe it is to feel safe
So drown me and if you can
Or we could just have conversation
And I fall, I fall, I fall down
But I found you, before I drift away
The things we do just to stay alive
The things we do just to stay alive
The things we do just to stay alive
The things we do just to keep ourselves alive
Lyrics submitted by deathcab83, edited by tbl
Day Old Hate Lyrics as written by Dallas Green
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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.
Mountain Song
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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."
I Can't Go To Sleep
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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'
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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:
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This song is so stunning to listen to. It's so sad and complicated like real life is. I love Acoustic stuff because you can hear the rawness and pain in each word that is sung. You get the true meaning of the lyrics, because sometimes songs are over produced, so they kind of lose what was special about them in the first place, I'll take simplicity over bells, whistles and loops any day.
This is a very therapeutic song for me. I have a playlist on my ipod, for songs like this that really effect me ,so when i'm down or depressed i can listen to them and filter any negative feelings. Therapists recommend it, It really works.
Enough rambling, I think this song is about a complicated relationship of any sort but from one person's point of view.
'So lets face it, this was never what you wanted But I know that its fun to pretend Our blank stares and empty threats Are all I have They�re all I have'
I think he's pretending that everything is working but inside it's killing him. and it's what he's not saying that's important, He's deluding himself and making things more complicated.
'So drown me.. if you can Or we could just have conversation and I fall, I fall, I falter. I found you before I drift away'
He's drowning under the weight of his delusions and he's trying to find some way to help the situation but it's not gonna work.
'Now you still speak of day old hate Though your whole world has gone up into flames And isn't it great to find that you're really worth nothing And how safe it is to feel safe'
It's falling to bits and he feels worthless, but he'll live the lie if it means that he can tell himself that he's wanted, because walking away is worse (falling without a safety net).
The things we do just to stay alive (x3)
The things we do just to keep ourselves alive
He's referring to everyone being able to do exactly what he's doing, Lie to themselves, Makes it easier than having to face the cold hard facts.
'And isn't it great to find that you're really worth nothing And how safe it is to feel safe'
This gets me every time, everybody feels this at some point in their life, Not nice but necessary, Thanks for reading <3 <3