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.
Scratches
Another fake disease
Is there reality in this?
Or it just a dream?
Checkered floors
We've come a long long way
It seems we all just look the like stones
It makes us all the same
And I feel alone
Theres no pain involved
Is there reality in this?
Another time and place
Another pessimist way
Is there reality in this?
Your portrait of your dead soul
Hope will come
And carry us away
Another day
Plea, we still
Dream on hope
Change the way that people think
Things will never be the same
Theres not enough time to think
And I'm scared to talk to you
You might just notice me
I wish I could be someone else
Someone you could talk to
Someone who could make you melt
The planes are a rocking pirate ship and I'm not ready to walk the plank
I havn't saved the kids
Save the kids
Breathe underwater
And live a secret
I loathe the world, I hate the system
Too much talking and suicides by hanging
And my queen might pick the oxygen to capture
Happieness forever gone
So what am I doing?
You must not loose your mind in this
You must paint
You must not miss
Or see your portrait created
You may be stuck and weighed down
Focus on the corner of her face
It's all there
What you need to know
Portait of a dead soul
I whisper in the silent thought
It takes time for the leaves to fall
But headaces climax reluctently
We will be, for reality
Another fake disease
Is there reality in this?
Or it just a dream?
Checkered floors
We've come a long long way
It seems we all just look the like stones
It makes us all the same
And I feel alone
Theres no pain involved
Is there reality in this?
Another time and place
Another pessimist way
Is there reality in this?
Your portrait of your dead soul
Hope will come
And carry us away
Another day
Plea, we still
Dream on hope
Change the way that people think
Things will never be the same
Theres not enough time to think
And I'm scared to talk to you
You might just notice me
I wish I could be someone else
Someone you could talk to
Someone who could make you melt
The planes are a rocking pirate ship and I'm not ready to walk the plank
I havn't saved the kids
Save the kids
Breathe underwater
And live a secret
I loathe the world, I hate the system
Too much talking and suicides by hanging
And my queen might pick the oxygen to capture
Happieness forever gone
So what am I doing?
You must not loose your mind in this
You must paint
You must not miss
Or see your portrait created
You may be stuck and weighed down
Focus on the corner of her face
It's all there
What you need to know
Portait of a dead soul
I whisper in the silent thought
It takes time for the leaves to fall
But headaces climax reluctently
We will be, for reality
Lyrics submitted by ruinTHPS
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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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.
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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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How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
One of my friends met Trash & asked him the meaning of this song And of what she can remember, it was about how there is no pain after death. It is apparently written about his ex girlfriend who he realised was a "dead soul"