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.
Eye on the TV
'Cause tragedy thrills me
Whatever flavor it happens to be like
Killed by the husband
Drowned by the ocean
Shot by his own son
She used a poison
In his tea
And kissed him goodbye
That's my kind of story
It's no fun until someone dies
Don't look at me like
I am a monster
Frown out your one face
But with the other
Stare like a junkie
Into the TV
Stare like a zombie
While the mother
Holds her child
Watches him die
Hands to the sky crying
"Why, oh why?"
'Cause I need to watch things die
From a distance
Vicariously I live
While the whole world dies
You all need it too, don't lie
Why can't we just admit it?
Why can't we just admit it?
We won't give pause until the blood is flowing
Neither the brave nor bold
Were writers of the stories told
We won't give pause until the blood is flowing
I need to watch things die
From a good safe distance
Vicariously I live while the whole world dies
You all feel the same, so
Why can't we just admit it?
Blood like rain come down
Drum on grave and ground
Part vampire
Part warrior
Carnivore and voyeur
Stare at the transmittal
Sing to the death rattle
La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie
La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie
La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie
La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie
Credulous at best
Your desire to believe in
Angels in the hearts of men
Pull your head out of your hippie haze
And give a listen
Shouldn't have to say it all again
The universe is hostile, so impersonal
Devour to survive, so it is
So it's always been
We all feed on tragedy
It's like blood to a vampire
Vicariously I
Live while the whole world dies
Much better you than I
'Cause tragedy thrills me
Whatever flavor it happens to be like
Killed by the husband
Drowned by the ocean
Shot by his own son
She used a poison
In his tea
And kissed him goodbye
That's my kind of story
It's no fun until someone dies
Don't look at me like
I am a monster
Frown out your one face
But with the other
Stare like a junkie
Into the TV
Stare like a zombie
While the mother
Holds her child
Watches him die
Hands to the sky crying
"Why, oh why?"
'Cause I need to watch things die
From a distance
Vicariously I live
While the whole world dies
You all need it too, don't lie
Why can't we just admit it?
Why can't we just admit it?
We won't give pause until the blood is flowing
Neither the brave nor bold
Were writers of the stories told
We won't give pause until the blood is flowing
I need to watch things die
From a good safe distance
Vicariously I live while the whole world dies
You all feel the same, so
Why can't we just admit it?
Blood like rain come down
Drum on grave and ground
Part vampire
Part warrior
Carnivore and voyeur
Stare at the transmittal
Sing to the death rattle
La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie
La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie
La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie
La, la, la, la, la, la-la-lie
Credulous at best
Your desire to believe in
Angels in the hearts of men
Pull your head out of your hippie haze
And give a listen
Shouldn't have to say it all again
The universe is hostile, so impersonal
Devour to survive, so it is
So it's always been
We all feed on tragedy
It's like blood to a vampire
Vicariously I
Live while the whole world dies
Much better you than I
Lyrics submitted by DarkAntiCrista, edited by InConSciOUS, xvicariousx
Vicarious Lyrics as written by Daniel Carey Adam Jones
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"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.
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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 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,
This is more down to earth than usual from Maynard. It hits hard because it is not about hidden meanings. At first, the lack of mystery is almost disappointing for a die-hard. But the song itself is devastating and true tool. The meaning, as I see it: we consume information about the world's tragedies like vultures because, in part, it satisfies a need of ours. Why can't we just admit it? Because this vicariousness is horribly shameful. So we (la, la, la) lie about it. Maynard tells us to accept the truth, though, he really doesn't need or want to 'say it all again'. This is a song about a human need that Maynard thinks is timeless ('so it is, so it's always been'): living vicariously off other people's tragedy. He does not hope for change, he demands recognition of this ailment. Because maybe we really should be ashamed.
I am doing a college report on the matter that Humans as a speices feed off other peoples tragedy, and Why we would turn on the television just to see it when anyother day we wouldn't bother turning it on. Media sales sky rocket with headlines like" 100 dead in plane crach" more than ever. I want to understand this. Is there any book, Abstract or anyother paper that i could find anything about this " Condition" we all seem to have that no one wants to admit their thrill for?? <br /> <br /> Email me at <br /> mcctho36@pct.edu<br /> or<br /> tetnus76@hotmail.com<br /> <br /> Thank you.
Why would we be Ashamed? Where is that getting us... <br /> Build up to power yourself through your life. Make a difference...Let's turn our eye away from the T.V. and toward the realities of our future life on Earth.
@Davezs, you just made yourself part of the song. You're part of the problem.<br /> <br /> "Credulous at best, your desire to believe in angels in the hearts of men.<br /> Pull your head on out your hippy haze and give a listen."<br /> <br /> lmao. Irony.
I don't think there's anything shameful about being fascinated by violence/death/evil. I can't speak for other living things, but we as humans are conscious of our own mortality. Our curiosity seeks to understand it, while our instinct for self-preservation fears it. Since we can't explore it personally and survive to understand it, we can only examine death through the deaths of other people. The same with violence and cruelty. Most of us don't care to experience it first hand, so the only way to learn about it is vicariously. We are fascinated out of fear... "Neither the brave nor bold were writers of the stories told"... what would I do if this happened to me? It can also provide a way to empathize with others and see that we all share the same fears. It seems the shameful thing is that the media has capitalized on this basic need within us and turned it into a way to profit. That's why there is so much violence in movies, tv shows, music, books, etc... The problem seems to be desensitization due to overexposure to it. Just look at the news! And in a way we find pleasure in the desensitization, because it numbs us from the fear. Like "junkies staring at a screen", the more we watch the more we feel safe in accepting violence and death, because we've already 'experienced' it. It also exposes our lack of desire to do as Davesz mentioned. Most people don't care until it affects their life personally. We naturally prefer to look out for ourselves rather than look out for others, which is part of why there is so much violence. We haven't evolved to a point of communal "hippy" thinking, and perhaps it's counter-intuitive to our nature. That's what I get out of it anyway! I'm sure there's more, as there are over 400 comments :-)
@lipanconjuring I think the line "so it is, so it's always been" is actually referring more to the concept of eternal return, not just humanity. "The universe is hostile, so impersonal, devour to survive." Everything in the universe is constantly being broken down, from the cells in our bodies to the elements in stars. It has been in a constant state of cycling since its existence, it devours itself, and because we are part of the universe it devours us as well, it's nothing personal. I'm not sure if that's what he was referring to in the song but that's what I got out of the song. Basically, we live in fear of death, we read these events that happen in horror, glued to the screen petrified like "I'm glad that wasn't me" and finding satisfaction in the fact we survive when in reality death is just a part of life and there is nothing to be afraid of.