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.
Come to decide that the things that I tried
Were in my life just to get high on
When I sit alone, come get a little known
But I need more than myself this time
Step from the road to the sea to the sky
And I do believe that we rely on
When I lay it on, come get to play it on
All my life to sacrifice
Hey oh
Listen what I say, oh
I got your hey oh
Now listen what I say, oh
When will I know that I really can't go
To the well once more time to decide on
When it's killing me, when will I really see
All that I need to look inside?
Come to believe that I better not leave
Before I get my chance to ride
When it's killing me, what do I really need
All that I need to look inside?
Hey oh
Listen what I say, oh
Come back and hey, oh
Look at what I say, oh
The more I see, the less I know
The more I like to let it go
Hey oh, whoa-whoa
Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Privately divided by a world so undecided
And there's nowhere to go
In between the cover of another perfect wonder
And it's so white as snow
Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
And there's nowhere to go
Ho!
When to descend to amend for a friend
All the channels that have broken down
Now you bring it up, I'm gonna ring it up
Just to hear you sing it out
Step from the road to the sea to the sky
And I do believe what we rely on
When I lay it on, come get to play it on
All my life to sacrifice
Hey oh
Listen what I say, oh
I got your hey oh
Listen what I say, oh
The more I see, the less I know
The more I like to let it go
Hey oh, whoa-whoa
Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Privately divided by a world so undecided
And there's nowhere to go
In between the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
And there's nowhere to go
I said hey, hey yeah
Oh yeah, tell my love now
Hey, hey yeah
Oh yeah, tell my love now
Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Privately divided by a world so undecided
And there's nowhere to go
Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
And there's nowhere to go
I said hey, oh yeah
Oh yeah, tell my love now
Hey, hey yeah, oh yeah
Were in my life just to get high on
When I sit alone, come get a little known
But I need more than myself this time
Step from the road to the sea to the sky
And I do believe that we rely on
When I lay it on, come get to play it on
All my life to sacrifice
Hey oh
Listen what I say, oh
I got your hey oh
Now listen what I say, oh
When will I know that I really can't go
To the well once more time to decide on
When it's killing me, when will I really see
All that I need to look inside?
Come to believe that I better not leave
Before I get my chance to ride
When it's killing me, what do I really need
All that I need to look inside?
Hey oh
Listen what I say, oh
Come back and hey, oh
Look at what I say, oh
The more I see, the less I know
The more I like to let it go
Hey oh, whoa-whoa
Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Privately divided by a world so undecided
And there's nowhere to go
In between the cover of another perfect wonder
And it's so white as snow
Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
And there's nowhere to go
Ho!
When to descend to amend for a friend
All the channels that have broken down
Now you bring it up, I'm gonna ring it up
Just to hear you sing it out
Step from the road to the sea to the sky
And I do believe what we rely on
When I lay it on, come get to play it on
All my life to sacrifice
Hey oh
Listen what I say, oh
I got your hey oh
Listen what I say, oh
The more I see, the less I know
The more I like to let it go
Hey oh, whoa-whoa
Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Privately divided by a world so undecided
And there's nowhere to go
In between the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
And there's nowhere to go
I said hey, hey yeah
Oh yeah, tell my love now
Hey, hey yeah
Oh yeah, tell my love now
Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Privately divided by a world so undecided
And there's nowhere to go
Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder
Where it's so white as snow
Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed
And there's nowhere to go
I said hey, oh yeah
Oh yeah, tell my love now
Hey, hey yeah, oh yeah
Lyrics submitted by quazy_qual, edited by Mellow_Harsher, GRUNGExADDICT, Smeed
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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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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
First Line: The old behavior was an avoidance of taking the right action in life. Second Line: When I meditate on my life I gain more of an understanding of what to do to start over. But ultimately that just leaves me focused on myself and my problems more. I need God and not to rely on myself. Third Line: Step from the road (sin/drugs) to the sea (spiritual) to the sky (heaven) and I do believe that we rely on (God) Forth Line: When I take action I get to live my life. I will sacrifice to do this (Like Christ).. Verse: Fans, listen to what I am telling you. This is the answer to a better life. Firth line: When will I ever stop avoiding taking the right actions in my life. Sixth line: When the sins are killing my life, when will I realize that the solution is within and stop running from myself through this avoidance.. Seventh Line (wow, there sure are a lot of words in this song): The more I think about my past (shame, guilt) the less I am able to start over. I need to stop thinking and start taking action. Eigth Line:. The miracle (perfect wonder) is that God gives someone who has messed up as much as me a second chance. And I get to start over with a blank slate, clean as snow. Ninth line: Secretly, I still can't make up my mind or rather I repeat my old ways and do not sacrifice and move to the new life and that is the road that leads to nowhere. Tenth Line: I'm given a second chance- the blank slate of snow but yet I revert back to my old ways or nowhere to goesville.
Eleventh line (whew!): When will I stop this behavior and truly make up to the people I have hurt through my selfish drug show.
Twelfth line: I will now be brave and allow you to confront me for my behavior and let you vent at me. Let it all out and express how I hurt you.
And don't forget that after the song repeats words that the lyrics include "tell my love now" Or tell his girlfriend/woman that this time will be different and he will use the blank slate of snow to rebuild his life the right way.
A most beautiful ending Anthony. Let's hope you/I/we mean it this time and really take the action to have the new and better life.