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.
Listen to your tunes
And the untruth in your voice
You oughta melt me
When you lie
There’s no reason why
And there’s no thong in the dye
And this standing is not so good
But I never really tried
And the earth revolves for nothing
So the tourists had to cry. Try
But can’t decide what put you on
That tricky ride since high school
Try, cry you can’t decide what put you on
That tricky ride since high school
Bring the beers the last parade
Has left the house
They’ll try and hurt you
When they lie
They’re timid like the damned
Only I know where I’ll land
And this standing is not so good
But I never really tried
And the earth revolves for nothing
So my cheerleaders had to
Cry, try but can’t decide what put you on
That tricky ride since high school
Cry, try you can’t decide what put you on
That tricky ride since high school
I’ll sink and go under it
I’ll rise and get over it
I’ll float on a log in the midstream
I found out what that fear was for
And the untruth in your voice
You oughta melt me
When you lie
There’s no reason why
And there’s no thong in the dye
And this standing is not so good
But I never really tried
And the earth revolves for nothing
So the tourists had to cry. Try
But can’t decide what put you on
That tricky ride since high school
Try, cry you can’t decide what put you on
That tricky ride since high school
Bring the beers the last parade
Has left the house
They’ll try and hurt you
When they lie
They’re timid like the damned
Only I know where I’ll land
And this standing is not so good
But I never really tried
And the earth revolves for nothing
So my cheerleaders had to
Cry, try but can’t decide what put you on
That tricky ride since high school
Cry, try you can’t decide what put you on
That tricky ride since high school
I’ll sink and go under it
I’ll rise and get over it
I’ll float on a log in the midstream
I found out what that fear was for
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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.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"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."
American Town
Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
I love this song. I love how he sings "Timid like the damned. Only I know where I'll land." Listening to the remastered version, I think the lyrics may be the following. The 'tourist' part doesn't sound right but I can't think of what other word it could be.
Listen to your tunes And the untruth in your voice You ought to help me When you lie
There’s no reason why And there’s no thumb in the dye
And the standing’s not so good But I never really tried And the earth revolves for nothing
So the tourists had to cry. Try But can’t decide what put you on That shaky ride since high school
Try, cry, you can’t decide what put you on That shaky ride since high school
Bring the beers the last parade Has left the house They try and hurt you When they lie Timid like the damned Only I know where I’ll land And the standing’s not so good But I never really tried And the earth revolves for nothing So the tourists had to cry
Try, cry, you can’t decide what put you on That shaky ride since high school
Cry, try, we can’t decide what put you on That shaky ride since high school
I’ll sink and go under it I’ll rise and get over it Float on a log in the midstream I found out what that fear was for