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.
Lying awake on this phone call
She's dreaming of better days
Flowers lie on the counter
Remind her of better days
She sends a prayer up to Jesus
And she asks him for his strength
And the night will go on bleeding
Was it faith that paid the rent?
And I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
Now I know you're
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
Now I know you're
Standing here in the doorway
With a candle and a gun
The lights you threw open windows
For now the day has won
And I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
Now I know you're
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
Now I know you're
Like a child on her way here
You just smile and run the other way
And faith won't find you a reason
It just smiles and runs the other way
And it just smiles
It just smiles and runs the other way
It just smiles
It just smiles and then runs the other way
It's not worth waiting
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
Now I know you're
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
Now
You question love with a camera
And you're catching love with a will
Well heart lies in loneliness
Now a fight the past can kill
She's dreaming of better days
Flowers lie on the counter
Remind her of better days
She sends a prayer up to Jesus
And she asks him for his strength
And the night will go on bleeding
Was it faith that paid the rent?
And I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
Now I know you're
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
Now I know you're
Standing here in the doorway
With a candle and a gun
The lights you threw open windows
For now the day has won
And I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
Now I know you're
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
Now I know you're
Like a child on her way here
You just smile and run the other way
And faith won't find you a reason
It just smiles and runs the other way
And it just smiles
It just smiles and runs the other way
It just smiles
It just smiles and then runs the other way
It's not worth waiting
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
Now I know you're
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
I know you're barely listening
Now
You question love with a camera
And you're catching love with a will
Well heart lies in loneliness
Now a fight the past can kill
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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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I don't see the 'barely listening' part of this song referring to a past lover or something- I see that aspect of the song referring to God. Things are, for lack of a better phrase, sucking, and God is apparently 'barely listening' to the prayers, because nothing's changing, and it all just keeps sucking. It's about losing faith and the closure that you used to get from prayer that just doesn't come anymore, because the prayers have stopped being answered. Amazing song, and one I can definitely relate to more than any other.
im not absolutly certain, but i think that this song is about how people put too much faith in religion. "Was it faith that paid the rent?" that line means that when people pray (for example to make rent) that its not religion that makes that happen, its them. people make their own miracles and it has nothing to do with their religion or faith. its almost kind of anti religion to me...but im not sure.
I love this song. Video scared me a bit @_@. can someone tell me what the meaning of this song is??
From checking other lyrics sites, I think the lyrics of the last verse submitted here are wrong. The last verse should be:
You can't shape love with a hammer You can't shape love with a will What horror lies in knowing There's no fate that chaos can't kill.
-- With those lyrics, I think the song is saying that while religion ultimately cannot provide any answers about life in a universe which in truth we all know to be horrifyingly chaotic, prayer is necessary because it fulfills the need of providing temporary solace and relief ("smiles and looks the other way") until we die (or until the afterlife in a different universe where prayers are answered). The reasons answers to prayers are illusive now is because even if a godlike entity is listening, it has no powers in this universe other than the inner strength that faith provides to help you get through life, e.g., for Christians part of that strength is provided by belief in the afterlife.
this song is great, but i think their other songs off the new album are even better, like "hold the line" and "i won't blame you". if anyone has the lyrics to them, please post 'em!
this song is absolutely haunting... to me, it means my ex now puts his life in God's hands, which is fine and of course his choice, but my flowers lie on the counter and remind me of better days when he used to pay attention to ME. i know he was barely listening.
the album is spectacular in its entirety.
i think this song is about religion mostly since in the first it describes how she says a prayer but faith never paid the rent in a sense that it's like we ask god for all this help and strength but he ignores us.. which leads to the chorus "i know you're barely listening"
and then the second verse is like god runs away from our problems leaving it all up to us and kinda abandoning us in a way that makes you think god is laughing at you thinking that he will help you. at least from mypoint of view