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.
This is the first thing I can remember I came unglued
Last on board when the ship went down
This is the first thing I can remember I came unglued (To call me off was madness)
Last on board when the ship went down (on our love)
Speak to me now till I dont feel a thing
Until winter gives way to spring
You are the one that I lost
Ive been taking all the back roads home
When everything thats held me back now becomes whats making me come undone
On the ceiling is a secret door and Ive finally found the words to prove
When everything was tragic at once it made me come unglued
Last on board when the ship went down
This is the first thing I can remember I came unglued (To call me off was madness)
Last on board when the ship went down (on our love)
Speak to me now till I dont feel a thing
Until winter gives way to spring
You are the one that I lost
Ive been taking all the back roads home
When everything thats held me back now becomes whats making me come undone
On the ceiling is a secret door and Ive finally found the words to prove
When everything was tragic at once it made me come unglued
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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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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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“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.
Ahh. Such a good song! I can't believe Fair has such a lack of comments! To me this song talks about time in life when something hits you and you lose control. By the time you realize what's going on, you're "last on board" and the ship's going down. Winter to me symbolizes that little "dead" period we all have. There's got to be something bigger that speaks to us to turn that winter into spring. That's my two cents: ].
This song is definitely about people crushing your hopes/dreams and telling you that you're being ridiculous, and that you're the last one on the "ship". That, or a romantic relationship isn't working out and he was the last to know about it, even though he was in the relationship. I think the "speak to me part" is about speaking to God because he doesn't feel like anyone else understands. He also can't remember any good times because the first thing he remembers is becoming unglued, which is another reason he is turning to God or some other amazing person.