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.
C'est la vie
Have your leaves all turned to brown
Will you scatter them around you
C'est la vie
Do you love
And then how am I to know
If you don't let your love show for me
C'est la vie
Oh c'est la vie
Oh c'est la vie
Who knows, who cares for me
C'est la vie
In the night
Do you light a lover's fire
Do the ashes of desire for you remain
Like the sea
There's a love to deep to show
Took a storm before my love
Flowed for you
C'est la vie
Oh c'est la vie
Oh c'est la vie
Who knows, who cares for me
C'est la vie
Like a song
Out of tune and out of time
All I needed was a rhyme for you
C'est la vie
Do you give
Do you live from day to day
Is there no song I can play for you
C'est la vie
Oh c'est la vie
Oh c'est la vie
Who knows, who cares for me
C'est la vie
Have your leaves all turned to brown
Will you scatter them around you
C'est la vie
Do you love
And then how am I to know
If you don't let your love show for me
C'est la vie
Oh c'est la vie
Oh c'est la vie
Who knows, who cares for me
C'est la vie
In the night
Do you light a lover's fire
Do the ashes of desire for you remain
Like the sea
There's a love to deep to show
Took a storm before my love
Flowed for you
C'est la vie
Oh c'est la vie
Oh c'est la vie
Who knows, who cares for me
C'est la vie
Like a song
Out of tune and out of time
All I needed was a rhyme for you
C'est la vie
Do you give
Do you live from day to day
Is there no song I can play for you
C'est la vie
Oh c'est la vie
Oh c'est la vie
Who knows, who cares for me
C'est la vie
Lyrics submitted by thedanman344, edited by emptiheart
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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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.
Plastic Bag
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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.
For me, this song has a double meaning. It describes how I felt when my marriage hit the rocks & when I separated from my wife. Through all of this I wondered if she had any feeling left for me (Do the ashes of desire for you remain?) It seemed that nothing I did made the slightest difference. (Is there no song I can play for you?) It also makes me think of a girl I had a huge crush on many years ago. (She eventually married someone else.) It also reminds me of my latest crush. I met her online. Because we live rather far apart, the chances of meeting in person are slim. I think she may have similar feelings for me, but she hasn't said so. (Do you love/ And then how am I to know/ If you don't let your love show for me.) When she faced some serious personal problems awhile ago, I realized how strongly I felt & I wanted to come to her rescue. (Took a storm before my love flowed for you...) I know that there are so many things working against us & that it might never work out any way. (Like a song/ Out of tune and out of time...) Sorry for running on so much. This is such a beautiful & haunting song & it really speaks to me on a personal level.
Who knows, who cares for me C'est la vie
@rockinaz Thank you sincerely for sharing these words of your Life. I was quite moved.
One of the most sensational songs of our time.As to many songs though,the listener has missed the mark by a mile.So many interperet it as a beautiful or tragic love song But instead considerate it as the roller coaster of life. Not just a relationship, but a life time of miniscual moments.
@PeterGreybe Perhaps this brilliant song has a multitude of interpretations. That is its beauty & complexity. <br /> <br /> I like your interpretation as well.
Cant believe no one has commented on this song... Just a beautiful song.
"Who knows, who cares for me C'est la vie"
Story of my fucking life.
I think it's about a man loving a woman, and she leaves, but he still loves her.
Typical lovesong. Still, beautiful song.
Here is a comment: Absolutely one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Listen to the live version, where Keith comes in with the accordian in the middle...it just transports you. Greg has one fantastic set of pipes.
this became one of my absolute favorite songs in little over two minutes. its beautiful and an absolute marvel to listen to.
i think the song is more about how much the singer loved his "love" no matter how off she was (out of tune and out of time). and he's asking for her to come back (is there no song i can play for you).
c'est la vie is french, meaning it is the life. she was his life, he lost her, and desperately wants her back.
this became one of my absolute favorite songs in little over two minutes. its beautiful and an absolute marvel to listen to.
i think the song is more about how much the singer loved his "love" no matter how off she was (out of tune and out of time). and he's asking for her to come back (is there no song i can play for you).
c'est la vie is french, meaning it is the life. she was his life, he lost her, and desperately wants her back.
this became one of my absolute favorite songs in little over two minutes. its beautiful and an absolute marvel to listen to.
i think the song is more about how much the singer loved his "love" no matter how off she was (out of tune and out of time). and he's asking for her to come back (is there no song i can play for you).
c'est la vie is french, meaning it is the life. she was his life, he lost her, and desperately wants her back.
Amazing on so many levels.
This song can be about lost love. It can also be about one's life. Some strive to live more fully than they do. I first heard it in 1973. As someone who now successfully deals with Depression, this song used to hit me so hard to the point of tears about my own life. It can still leave me that way, but not for the same reasons. I was the one out of tune and out of time. I felt unloved. I just wanted someone to love me as much as I did them. I finally found her in 2004. Sometimes, life requires more than the usual patience.
@ronald1128 (btw, english is not my first lenguage so you know in advance) man, what a great thought you have for this song, for life in general, i was hoping to find something like this, it really helped me to not struggle with some other depressive thoughts i was having. Indeed, life requires not only patience, but something else, and i believe it is the path of "searching for "something else" that you walk what our main goal is. Also, we all should take into account all these apparently little unsignificant random messages we read (which, remember, are written by human beings, people) may somehow, even tho you dont consider them as relevant, really help people like me. Again, i really thank you and i hope you all take care of yourselves and others!