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.
Make me sanguine
Help me genuinely
Kill the doubt that strangles myself worth
Paint the picture that I swore I heard
Spiritless and mean
Ghost that comes between
I will keep my wits about myself
Disregard directions sent from hell
When it brings the gleam
Longer lasting than me
Oh my love but we are bound to die
My heart is broke but you won't hear me cry
Oh my love but we are bound to die
My heart is broke but you won't see me
Help me genuinely
Kill the doubt that strangles myself worth
Paint the picture that I swore I heard
Spiritless and mean
Ghost that comes between
I will keep my wits about myself
Disregard directions sent from hell
When it brings the gleam
Longer lasting than me
Oh my love but we are bound to die
My heart is broke but you won't hear me cry
Oh my love but we are bound to die
My heart is broke but you won't see me
Lyrics submitted by Thrilliam
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Light Up The Sky
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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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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
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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.
it definitely does deal with depression as well
the lines: I will keep my wits about myself Disregard directions sent from hell
possibly talk about something like suicide. or something to that affect. overall i think you have the true meaning of the song
I think that this is about the end of a relationship.
Sanguine means cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident. It also refers to being the color of blood, but that is probably irrelevant.
I think that he wants her to tell him that it will be ok, or he wants her to at least let him down gently.
beautiful and melancholy song.
I think you nailed it. <br /> <br /> You're actually right on in mentioning that sanguine means the color of blood. In medieval times, blood was thought to be responsible for optimism.
I agree, I think it's about the end of a relationship.
"Kill the doubt that strangles my self-worth"
I love that line. When I had been depressed I would listen to the Avetts and when I heard this line, it struck something within me and I slowly started to come out of my depression. I had been thinking of dying but this line changed my way of thinking..
I definitely think it has references to struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide, more than the end of a relationship. We lost a family member this week to suicide and when I heard this that night, I saw it in a new light. All the points made above to this concept are spot on in my opinion.
"Make me sanguine, help me genuinely." Its a cry for help through a tough situation.
"Kill the doubt that strangles my self worth. Paint a picture that I swore I heard." Help me to feel better about myself. Show me my value through your eyes.
I gotta go to work! More to come!