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.
The clouds are holding up the dawn
They're stilts or crutches
I can't tell which one
To keep the short days looking longer
Or to keep the sunlight from falling on broken legs
But the
Night's disguise is wearing thin
Caught me looking through
Your eyes
No I'm not doing alright
I'm just as stupid and
Desperate as I've always been
All the uselessness I write
Just come at me with a knife
Come cut this sickness from my
Mind
Help me forget about a shattered lie
Bleed my failure
Into something right
The boss man said there's no more work
This winter
So go on home now and check back in the spring
Some dreams turned out to be a nightmare that you can't afford
So it's coming in on a credit card
Get yourself all prettied up
My love
Come here close let me tie that ironed ribbon
On the
Dress I bought you it's the perfect one
For the perfect night
With the perfect woman
But the night's disguise is wearing thin
They're stilts or crutches
I can't tell which one
To keep the short days looking longer
Or to keep the sunlight from falling on broken legs
But the
Night's disguise is wearing thin
Caught me looking through
Your eyes
No I'm not doing alright
I'm just as stupid and
Desperate as I've always been
All the uselessness I write
Just come at me with a knife
Come cut this sickness from my
Mind
Help me forget about a shattered lie
Bleed my failure
Into something right
The boss man said there's no more work
This winter
So go on home now and check back in the spring
Some dreams turned out to be a nightmare that you can't afford
So it's coming in on a credit card
Get yourself all prettied up
My love
Come here close let me tie that ironed ribbon
On the
Dress I bought you it's the perfect one
For the perfect night
With the perfect woman
But the night's disguise is wearing thin
Lyrics submitted by SameOldStory
The Night's Disguise Lyrics as written by Rocky Votolato
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
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My interpretation is that of a relationship that's on it's last leg, and he has a weak perspective of how things are. His perspective is causing him to see it in many ways, but he eventually notices the truth of the situation when the "night's disguise", which would be the day, or, in this case, his false hope of the situation, wears thin.
i kind of feel like this is about a guy who kind of feels like he's not good enough for the woman he's with.<br /> <br /> "come cut this sickness from my<br /> mind <br /> help me forget about a shattered lie <br /> bleed my failure<br /> into something right " <br /> <br /> he feels like she is perfect and he doesn't have enough to offer and it's eating away at him.
I'd say it's pretty clear cut as far as the meaning in the song. He's in dire straits financially, and it's affecting his relationship, creating stress where there should be none. The character had been planning a romantic night out with his significant other, but things took a turn for the worse at his job, and he got laid, so he had to pay for the expensive night out with a credit card. They try to have the best time on their night out that they can, but what the night means for their future is hard to avoid ("come here close; let me tie that iron ribbon", as if the accessories they're wearing are literally shackles holding them down), and, at the end, the "night's disguise" of a fantastic time out fades, and they're left with the harsh reality they now live.
Czechnmymail is spot on with their solid interpretation of this song. I literally just made an account on here to write that this is one of my favorite tunes ever. Rocky's voice is so raspy and telling and I'm just amazed by him. There's that.
possibly about a break up?