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.
Remember when you ran away
And I got on my knees
And begged you not to leave
Because I'd go beserk
Well you left me anyhow
And then the days got worse and worse
And now you see I've gone
Completely out of my mind
And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa
They're coming to take me away ho-ho hee-hee ha-haaa
To the funny farm
Where life is beautiful all the time
And I'll be happy to see those nice young men
In their clean white coats
And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa
You thought it was a joke
And so you laughed
You laughed when I said
That losing you would make me flip my lid
Right?
You know you laughed
I heard you laugh, you laughed
You laughed and laughed and then you left
But now you know I'm utterly mad
And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa
They're coming to take me away ho-ho hee-hee ha-haaa
To the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds
And basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes
And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa
I cooked your food
I cleaned your house
And this is how you pay me back
For all my kind unselfish, loving deeds
Ha! Well you just wait
They'll find you yet and when they do
They'll put you in the A.S.P.C.A.
You mangy mutt
And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa
They're coming to take me away ha-haaa ho-ho hee-hee
To the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time
And I'll be happy to see those nice young men
In their clean white coats
And they're coming to take me away
To the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds
And basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes
And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa!
And I got on my knees
And begged you not to leave
Because I'd go beserk
Well you left me anyhow
And then the days got worse and worse
And now you see I've gone
Completely out of my mind
And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa
They're coming to take me away ho-ho hee-hee ha-haaa
To the funny farm
Where life is beautiful all the time
And I'll be happy to see those nice young men
In their clean white coats
And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa
You thought it was a joke
And so you laughed
You laughed when I said
That losing you would make me flip my lid
Right?
You know you laughed
I heard you laugh, you laughed
You laughed and laughed and then you left
But now you know I'm utterly mad
And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa
They're coming to take me away ho-ho hee-hee ha-haaa
To the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds
And basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes
And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa
I cooked your food
I cleaned your house
And this is how you pay me back
For all my kind unselfish, loving deeds
Ha! Well you just wait
They'll find you yet and when they do
They'll put you in the A.S.P.C.A.
You mangy mutt
And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa
They're coming to take me away ha-haaa ho-ho hee-hee
To the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time
And I'll be happy to see those nice young men
In their clean white coats
And they're coming to take me away
To the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds
And basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes
And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa!
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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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.
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
WHAAAT? no comments? (blasphemy)
Clearly it's about well ajusted adults. I like it, good song, fun to sing at random intervals and reap in the weird looks. But it creeps me out at night.
The song is about a man going crazy, and being taken away to a mental hospital.
Due to complaints from many people, this song was actually banned from a lot of radio stations at the time it was released in 1966 because they felt it made fun of people with mental diseases.
Nod about the mutt line. What better would signify the craziness of the singer than the fact the guy thinks his dog is ACTUALLY laughing at him? But it is not necessarily the case that the one that leaves is a mutt. I get giggles flip-flopping the meaning between that of a friend or lover and that of a real mutt: a dog. It seems like a bit of a “conceptual illusion” (my words), much akin to those dual faced “optical illusions”, some examples of which I can think of is one where you either see a rabbit or a duck, and another where one sees either dolphins or lovers in the act. While obviously many songs contain entities with dual meanings (otherwise, why would songmeanings.net exist?) This one seems to be such a tease that its worth noting. It is in a song about the point of insanity, and one may feel as they’re going insane flip flopping through the two meanings. This search for meaning and the resulting ambiguity is a perfect complement to the song.
Wow I really think you are over-analizing this song.<br /> <br /> He IS talking to his (ex) girlfriend<br /> he calls her mangy mutt cuz he is upset,<br /> <br /> causing ALOT of contraversy at the time<br /> <br /> like some one to day would curse at the person<br /> leaving them, and driving them mad<br /> <br /> <br /> but yes he is talking to his lover, not dog.<br />
It's about a man who's crazy with The Sorrows because his PET ran away, not his partner
@CuteSparkina I totally agree, why else would it reference the ASPCA.
Odd fun.
at first, the listener thinks that he's talking to a lover (or ex-lover). but then, the mangy mutt line.
He is talking to his (ex) girlfriend, he calls her a mangy mutt,<br /> and there was so much contraversy about it at the time.<br /> <br /> ha ha now they curse in songs and no one thinks anything about it<br /> <br /> But he is just calling her a mangy mutt cuz he's upset she left<br />
@classicsfan "mangy mutt" and "ASPCA"
lol. My friend and I are gonna sing this song on Performance Day at our school....
It'll be awesome.
Wow I really think you are over-analizing this song.
He IS talking to his (ex) girlfriend he calls her mangy mutt cuz he is upset,
causing ALOT of contraversy at the time
like some one to day would curse at the person leaving them, and driving them mad
but yes he is talking to his lover, not dog.
@NadiaSvetzlana You are missing the part about "they'll throw you in the ASPCA you mangy mutt" That only happens to animals hence ASPCA, this is about an animal leaving him.
@TheCoroner Not necessarily. The ASPCA could serve as a metaphor of the singer wishing some traumatic misfortune would befall the one who left him.
Totally agree with blackestwhiterose. It's a great song, but don't listen too late at night.
Actually My grandmother was around when this came out and told me that he is talking about his dog laughing at him which is why he is so crazy.