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.
I know that it's bad
That it's the kind that they can't operate on
And I know it's real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
Styrofoam coffee cups
And bagged drugs that never work enough
And I know its real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
When we were young
And hit like hammers
I'd write the nails in your hands
But when 99% of us is failure
There's no going back
And I know its real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
Blackbird come the break of dawn
The TV's on, I turn it off
Walk outside, get in the car
Stare at the wheel then fall apart
I get it all the time
Bright eyes to bat and hide behind
But I know they're just for show, honey
Painful and just for show
Black rooms to babysit
White halls to pace and wait for it
And I know it's too slow, honey
Painful and real slow
When we were young
And hit like hammers
I'd write the nails in your hands
When 99% of us is failure
There's no coming back
And I know its real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
Blackbird come the break of day
You swallow the shit that people say
Walk outside look at the sky
Ask it to fall or tell you why
That it's the kind that they can't operate on
And I know it's real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
Styrofoam coffee cups
And bagged drugs that never work enough
And I know its real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
When we were young
And hit like hammers
I'd write the nails in your hands
But when 99% of us is failure
There's no going back
And I know its real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
Blackbird come the break of dawn
The TV's on, I turn it off
Walk outside, get in the car
Stare at the wheel then fall apart
I get it all the time
Bright eyes to bat and hide behind
But I know they're just for show, honey
Painful and just for show
Black rooms to babysit
White halls to pace and wait for it
And I know it's too slow, honey
Painful and real slow
When we were young
And hit like hammers
I'd write the nails in your hands
When 99% of us is failure
There's no coming back
And I know its real slow, honey
Painful and real slow
Blackbird come the break of day
You swallow the shit that people say
Walk outside look at the sky
Ask it to fall or tell you why
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
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no one has commented on this one? probably my favourite off hospital music. i can't really think of what it could be about though?
At the risk of sounding too obvious i really have to assume it's about someone he knew with inoperable cancer suffering a long and painful death and the feeling of powerlessness to do anything about it.
"Styrofoam coffee cups and bagged drugs that never work"
styrofoam cups like the ones people drink endless amounts of coffee from in hospital waiting rooms while their loved ones get fed piles of drugs that in the end don't do much at all.
"Blackbird come the break of dawn The TVs on, I turn it off Walk outside, get in the car Stare at the wheel and fall apart"
that's the most devastating line, the blackbird is death and it's the morning and the is Tvs still on from last night and the finality of shutting it off and leaving that now empty hospital room, trying to hold it together and then just breaking down by the time you walk out to the parking lot and get in your car...wow.
i really love this album
At the risk of sounding too obvious i really have to assume it's about someone he knew with inoperable cancer suffering a long and painful death and the feeling of powerlessness to do anything about it.
"Styrofoam coffee cups and bagged drugs that never work"
styrofoam cups like the ones people drink endless amounts of coffee from in hospital waiting rooms while their loved ones get fed piles of drugs that in the end don't do much at all.
"Blackbird come the break of dawn The TVs on, I turn it off Walk outside, get in the car Stare at the wheel and fall apart"
that's the most devastating line, the blackbird is death and it's the morning and the is Tvs still on from last night and the finality of shutting it off and leaving that now empty hospital room, trying to hold it together and then just breaking down by the time you walk out to the parking lot and get in your car...wow.
i really love this album
@allmymutedmornings yea it seems to be about him and his friend being unable to support one another during tragedy because both were individually overwhelmed.
what does he mean when he says "When we were young and hit like hammers I'd write the nails in your hands" ?
I think this song refers to how he suffers from bipolar syndrome.
"I know that it's bad That it's the kind that they can't operate on"
"Styrofoam coffee cups and bagged drugs that never work enough"
"Walk outside, get in the car Stare at the wheel and fall apart"
"I get it all the time Bright eyes to bat and hide behind But I know they're just for show, honey Painful and just for show"
The song is about himself... At least that's how I interpret it
The song is about himself... At least that's how I interpret it
having been to a solo acoustic performance just 3 days ago.. i can interpret this. matt was saying how this is obviously a sad song, but didnt want to go into detail. being the outgoing person that i am, i yelled "TELL THE STORY". being matthew good who is brutally honest and a great performer, did. he said it was about how his wife left him the same time that his best friends father passed away. he said it was an overall hard time, with both of them looking for support from each other, yet neither of them able to offer much at all. this was the overall feeling when writing the song
I read an article in the newspaper about Hospital Music and this song is about his drug dependency at the time. The whole album is amazing and Matt Good really opens up about his mental illness. All in all it's my favourite album of his.
I would like to start off by saying Matt Good is amazing, although i have yet to see him in concert, i can't for the day that i do.
I never really came up with for the song, but since we know what it is now, it's a bit easier to disect each part.
I just wanted to comment on the part "When we were young and hit like hammers". I think this means that when he was young, he felt like any kid did, unstoppable. They made their impact in the world like a hammer on a nail.