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.
Did you say what you wanted said?
And now you're just putting the days to bed
Young actors want to play and play
And you'll play, but you're working
Call applicants and stole cornering them
We're all waiting for the big day
If you feel crazy that you're still crazy
It hasn't happened for a few days
Well just wait
In hindsight you're gonna wish you were here
You keep scratching at the old paint
But the wood is still there
And the room is still there
If you're trying to feel the wind
Well that's a window you're pressed against
You never told me your secrets
So I guess they stayed safe with me
Tall orders from such small shoulders
And invitations on blue paper
But I'm bailing water and bailing water
'Cause I like the shape of the boat
You asked me and I told you
And you asked me and I told you and I told you
In hindsight you're gonna wish you were here
You keep scratching at the old paint
But the wood is still there
And the room is still there
If you're my anchor then I'm throwing you over the side
Before I have the time to say
I never wanted anyone this way
But I'm smoking cigarettes when no one else does
And if I hold you now will I be holding a snowball
When the season changes and I'm craving the sun?
Are you still training for the big race
By hoping the runners will die?
Churning the words of your disgrace
But it's how you are when you're down that counts
And you know we're a good thing
It's been a long time since you said
Put down your camera and let me ask you
Is this new move just to keep moving?
In hindsight you're gonna wish you were here
You keep scratching at the old paint
But the wood is still there
And the room is still there
If I kiss you now like sun streaming in a tavern's door
Would you wonder what I'm kissing you for?
And now you're just putting the days to bed
Young actors want to play and play
And you'll play, but you're working
Call applicants and stole cornering them
We're all waiting for the big day
If you feel crazy that you're still crazy
It hasn't happened for a few days
Well just wait
In hindsight you're gonna wish you were here
You keep scratching at the old paint
But the wood is still there
And the room is still there
If you're trying to feel the wind
Well that's a window you're pressed against
You never told me your secrets
So I guess they stayed safe with me
Tall orders from such small shoulders
And invitations on blue paper
But I'm bailing water and bailing water
'Cause I like the shape of the boat
You asked me and I told you
And you asked me and I told you and I told you
In hindsight you're gonna wish you were here
You keep scratching at the old paint
But the wood is still there
And the room is still there
If you're my anchor then I'm throwing you over the side
Before I have the time to say
I never wanted anyone this way
But I'm smoking cigarettes when no one else does
And if I hold you now will I be holding a snowball
When the season changes and I'm craving the sun?
Are you still training for the big race
By hoping the runners will die?
Churning the words of your disgrace
But it's how you are when you're down that counts
And you know we're a good thing
It's been a long time since you said
Put down your camera and let me ask you
Is this new move just to keep moving?
In hindsight you're gonna wish you were here
You keep scratching at the old paint
But the wood is still there
And the room is still there
If I kiss you now like sun streaming in a tavern's door
Would you wonder what I'm kissing you for?
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"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
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"I had all and then most of you"
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"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Mountain Song
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
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"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
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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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
This is my favorite song on "Putting the Days to Bed," even though something about it makes me so sad. I honestly nearly fell down the first time I heard the stanza about bailing water. It's just so beautiful.
I love this song. I can totally relate. Its about someone searching for some unknown thing when what they need is right in front of them. And this song is trying to warn them not to split because they're gonig to regret it.
I love this song. I can totally relate. Its about someone searching for some unknown thing when what they need is right in front of them. And this song is trying to warn them not to split because they're gonig to regret it.
it's almost as though his lover is one who always wants the easy way out: "Are you still training for the big race by hoping the runners will die?". It sounds like things got hard and instead of facing the problem she's wanting to take the easy way out, she's wanting to run away from the problem instead of facing it. All the while the singer is seeing what she's doing and knows that if she opts to take that comfortable path then she'll, in the long run, regret what she did.
at least that's how i'm seeing it and can relate to some of the lines given my current situation.
it's almost as though his lover is one who always wants the easy way out: "Are you still training for the big race by hoping the runners will die?". It sounds like things got hard and instead of facing the problem she's wanting to take the easy way out, she's wanting to run away from the problem instead of facing it. All the while the singer is seeing what she's doing and knows that if she opts to take that comfortable path then she'll, in the long run, regret what she did.
at least that's how i'm seeing it and can relate to some of the lines given my current situation.
yes, I agree. and i believe the hard thing is for her to commit to him or to be willing to enter the relationship. he's saying that she knows "we're a good thing" and that she's going to regret it if she decides not to be with him, which is what she knows is right but she is afraid of at the same time.
I think you all are forgeting that it's not all her. He's met his match in the running game and they both know they're a good thing. They'll both regret a dissolution but it won't happen, both are trying to make things work in their lives and it's harder with each other but they'd regret it if they didn't try harder with each other.
This is my favourite song on the album.
To me, for some reason (possibly only the line about 'invitations on blue paper'), it is about a man who's getting cold feet about marrying a woman, only it's not 'cold feet', but rather a certain knowledge that it's just not right. Maybe he felt pressured into proposing and she's just excited about being a bride.
He's afraid that the girl knows it too, but will just plow on hoping that the doubts will go away and they'll be happily married:
"...but I'm smoking cigarettes when no one else does..."
He's the only one prepared to do something nobody else will, in saying that he thinks they should call it off, because as bad as it'll be, he'd rather that than make the mistake and be left with the consequences:
"...and if I hold you now will I be holding a snowball when the season changes and I'm craving the sun?"
If he doesn't do what he feels is right, will they be stuck in a broken marriage by next season?
From an interview with John Roderick (lead singer for The Long Winters):
Track 4: "Hindsight" - "I'm baling water and baling water 'cause I like the shape of the boat"
JR: I'm afraid that this lyric is already perfectly self-explanitory. When I say it's self-explanatory I'm not trying to be difficult, it's just to me nothing could be clearer than a lyric like that. It's a lyric about the small-scale, almost charming, tendency we all have toward self-destruction. If we weren't humans, if we were able to judge like computers or Vulcans, the only logical criteria for a BOAT would be that it floats without leaking. How it looks couldn't be less relevant to how it functions. Our humanity is revealed by our love for lost causes, for three-legged dogs and rusted-out "classic" cars, and there's something pathetic about us for that reason. The same eye that loves art and music will plunge us into buying a house with a cracked foundation, while a perfectly solid, and cheaper, house next door is rejected for being not as "cute". I celebrate this quality in people; it's what makes us interesting, and lovable, and individual, even if it means that we're doomed, somewhat. Why be in a relationship with someone? For love, comfort, support and encouragement. How many of us are in relationships that provide none of those things, but which we fight for against all odds?