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.
There's a tent in the center of town
And the people are losing their frowns
Cause they think they'll go there and see lions and bears
In the tent in the center of town
But it's all about the winning of souls
Say the signs on the telephone poles
They say if you are blue Jesus is calling you
To the tent in the center of town
The preacher is preaching his best
And he barely takes time for a breath
And their hearts are complete in the bearable heat
In the tent in the center of town
And the gentlemen give up their seats
To the women who've been on their feet
Cause it's standing room only when the Holy of Holies
Blesses the center of town
There's a tent in the center of town
Where the people can gather around
Who wouldn't step foot in a church
But who aren't afraid of a good news crusade
In the tent in the center of town
And they say they're drawn in by the stripes on the awning
And the beautiful music inside
But they're drawn by the Spirit that's pouring down
On the tent in the center of town
And revival hits like a wave
And hundreds are joyously saved
And the thief and adulterer lay it all on the altar
Cause there’s grace in the center of town
In this tent in the center of town
Where the people can gather around
Who wouldn't step foot in a church
But who aren't afraid of a good news crusade
In the tent in the center of town
The time has come to move on
To the next hurting throng
And they hope as they tear it apart
The tent will live on in their hearts
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Because of a tent in the center of town
And the people are losing their frowns
Cause they think they'll go there and see lions and bears
In the tent in the center of town
But it's all about the winning of souls
Say the signs on the telephone poles
They say if you are blue Jesus is calling you
To the tent in the center of town
The preacher is preaching his best
And he barely takes time for a breath
And their hearts are complete in the bearable heat
In the tent in the center of town
And the gentlemen give up their seats
To the women who've been on their feet
Cause it's standing room only when the Holy of Holies
Blesses the center of town
There's a tent in the center of town
Where the people can gather around
Who wouldn't step foot in a church
But who aren't afraid of a good news crusade
In the tent in the center of town
And they say they're drawn in by the stripes on the awning
And the beautiful music inside
But they're drawn by the Spirit that's pouring down
On the tent in the center of town
And revival hits like a wave
And hundreds are joyously saved
And the thief and adulterer lay it all on the altar
Cause there’s grace in the center of town
In this tent in the center of town
Where the people can gather around
Who wouldn't step foot in a church
But who aren't afraid of a good news crusade
In the tent in the center of town
The time has come to move on
To the next hurting throng
And they hope as they tear it apart
The tent will live on in their hearts
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Because of a tent in the center of town
Lyrics submitted by saratherese
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.