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.
It's just a bad movie where there's no crying
Handing the keys to me in this Red Lion
Where the lock that you locked in the suite
Says there's no prying
When the breath that you breathed in the street
Screams there's no science
When you look how you looked then to me
Then I cease lying and fall into silence
It's just a life story, so there's no climax
No more new territory, so pull away the IMAX
In the slot that you sliced through the scene
There was no shyness
In the plot that you passed through your teeth
There was no pity
No fade in, film begins on a kid in the big city
And no cut to a costly parade, that's for him only
No dissolve to a sliver of gray, that's his new lady
Where she glows just like grain on the flickering pane
Of some great movie
Hey, I didn't watch it
It's just a house burning, but it's not haunted
It was your heart hurting but not for too long, kid
In the socket you spin from with ease
There is no sticking
From the speakers your fake masterpiece
Comes serenely dribbling
And when the air 'round your chair fills with heat
That's the flames licking
Beneath the clock on the clean mantelpiece
It's got a calm clicking
Like a pro at his editing suite takes two weeks stitching
Up some bad movie
Handing the keys to me in this Red Lion
Where the lock that you locked in the suite
Says there's no prying
When the breath that you breathed in the street
Screams there's no science
When you look how you looked then to me
Then I cease lying and fall into silence
It's just a life story, so there's no climax
No more new territory, so pull away the IMAX
In the slot that you sliced through the scene
There was no shyness
In the plot that you passed through your teeth
There was no pity
No fade in, film begins on a kid in the big city
And no cut to a costly parade, that's for him only
No dissolve to a sliver of gray, that's his new lady
Where she glows just like grain on the flickering pane
Of some great movie
Hey, I didn't watch it
It's just a house burning, but it's not haunted
It was your heart hurting but not for too long, kid
In the socket you spin from with ease
There is no sticking
From the speakers your fake masterpiece
Comes serenely dribbling
And when the air 'round your chair fills with heat
That's the flames licking
Beneath the clock on the clean mantelpiece
It's got a calm clicking
Like a pro at his editing suite takes two weeks stitching
Up some bad movie
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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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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
"And no cut to a costly parade (that’s for him only!)." -Reminds me of Bueller every time
Fantastic! People make the banal things in life out to be much more dramatic and important than they actually are... just like a movie editor painstakingly takes weeks trying to make a boring film into something exciting- and fails.
Take a listen to the acoustic version of this song; it completely changes the mood and is SO wonderful!
they do make allusions to movies, though, right? like for example-- "No fade in: film begins on a kid in the big city. And no cut to a costly parade (that’s for him only!)"
Ferris Bueller's Day Off?
@regretably Of course.
Does anyone know what the Red Lion refers to? I know Okkervil were in Texas, but I'm near Silverlake, Ca and there's a Red Lion Tavern local bands and just us regular common people meet up at. Anyway, that's what I always think of when I hear it. "Hand your keys over cos you've been drinking."
This is just great writing and epic sounds. The "Maybe" part gets me. In many ways our lives ARE like movies...the climax, the let-down, the resolution. Or maybe you've had a boring, bland life so you can't relate and your life is not a movie, that's why you like watching them! Stop watching them! Go out and make your life something! :)
The Red Lion is just a stereotypical name for a bar. For example the Red Lion is the name of the bar in Animal Farm and in other literary works.
i learn sooooooooo much from this website. Fuck college, I can get a degree from the useful and meaningful information that is constantly displayed on here. You are sooo smart and should be a professor of music and lifeology. just coined that shit. THanks again, I don't think I could live with your knowledge:)
"THanks again, I don't think I could live with your knowledge:)"...I'm guessin' he mistyped. He's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he's kind of cute so we keep him around:)
OH WOW THANKS A MILLION. YOU SAY THE MOST DARDIST THINGS. THANKS FOR CLARIFYING THAT. WHAT IS YOUT IQ? DO YOU KNOW? HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN ANY TESTS? I'M CURIOUS. YOUR GREAT AT POTING OUT THE OBVIOUS. YOUR NOT LIKE A PRECOCIOUS LITTLE DUMBWITTED KID THATS CUTE. YOUR THE KIND THAT YOU'D LIKE TO PUT A MUZZLE ON THEIR MOUTHS. I'm just teasin darling. your fabulous woman:)
I do believe you called me a dog. (I've heard worse...and called YOU must worse, so I suppose we're even:)
i think someone needs to get over themselves. if you'd post more interesting things, your journals wouldn't be overridden. Now get on board flighty. remeber that? i kill myself, i do i do
yeah, you're a ruff ruff snuff tuff bluff fluff alright. do you think yoru the ruler of this website and it revolves around you constantly. get off that soapbox my lady love because it ain't all about you. Trust me:) wink wink
Hey, I have boring journals. But YOU post over journals belonging to others that are actually quite good. There's no bigger crime than posting NOTHING (ie. your private journals) over good prose/poetry. You should be hung upside down by your toenails for that crime! And "on board" "flighty" was one of your better ones. In fact, it's the only good one you've ever had:)
I'm crying now that I've learned that everybody wants to rule the world
okay, I don't want to be mean, I really don't. But I'm glad you acknowledge that your personality is bland and annoying. And you couldn't possibly fathom what one of my better anything is because you might not know me as well as you think you do. I agree there is beautiful poetry but yoru so self absorbed that you have been trumphing mine for over an hour, that it kinds of put your point into the wall. So why don't you zip it and let the good peeps post their stuff like you said. and i like to write privately sometimes so shut it
One cannot 'trumph" a private journal. And, yes, you do like to be mean. And, yes, you do like to be insulting. I'm a little shocked at your restrait; you didn't use the word "fat" or "boring." I'll shut it: goodnight.
But some of those journals your referring to are from you aren't they? A bit conceited don't you think? Your whining on another one about how yours aren't being viewed or applauded as much as they should. Please read some more psychology books and eventually you'll get it:):)
are you dense? i mean after mine comes up, yours comes up right after dumb dumb and when i talk about fat im talking about myself not you. sorry im crabby today but sometimes i think your retarted
You're an ass. All my "journals" were messages to you to stop posting private journals that blocked good writing. You don't allow for comments on your journals (which are PRIVATE). Therefore, the ONLY journals mine disrupted were your PRIVATE ones. Get with the program....Ass. Sorry, but the word Ass keeps coming to the forefront and I can't seem to stop myself from calling you it. Ass.
For gawd's sake, spell YOU'RE correctly before calling ME "retarded." Ass.
That would be "retarTed." LOL
going to strike you with an iron fist nimfucknut. i was making the point that you are wasting time by overriding my journals with yoru whines when others could of been up. you made 5 different posts about it. what don't you udnerstand. YOUR NOT AN ASS BUT AN ASSSHOLE A MAJOR ONE. TEASING BUT SERIOUSLY SOMETIMES I WISH YOUD SHUT THAT FUCKING MOUTH BEFOR EI STICK MY YOU KNOW WHAT IN IT
The perverted saying, "I want a meal, not a snack" comes to mind. No, ASS, if anyone had posted a REAL journal entry I would not have posted over them. Hence, that's where we're different (and one of the ways you're an ASS). Have I said "ass" enough times?
YOU TWO? THERES ONLY TWO OF US POSTING CORRECT? IF NOT, MY WORST NIGHTMARE HAS CAME TRUE. OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I don't want a brother. I don't want a sister. My feet get cold at night. And Mr. Ass is the last thing anyone needs. He'd leave me hungry ;)
DO YOU NO COMPREHEND THE TERM THE BIG PICTURE? I'm saying that regardless of how many times my private journal came up, you repeatedly kept posting yorus after mine came up several times. You could of poseted one comment about me taking up the space. But you posted several and it was completly redundant and absurd. you wasted time when other journals could of taken your spot. duh fucking duh duh duh duh duh smakc whack but your so narrow minded you probablt still don't get what im getting at. do you dig or what? otherwise im burying you in the ground.
okay i just had a couple puffs sorry im stressed to the max come over and smack my ass a bit and pull that stick out of it. Too much huh?:)
Cripes, read my response to you above; now I'm acting as stoopid as you! Ass.
this song is pretty solid
This is my favourite song off of the new album.
It really has the feel of someone not being as important as they think they are
ah but it has such an epic sound for a song about how not everything is really that epic afterall. yet it's got this effect on me where i feel more important after i listen to it. even though the words don't really suggest it.
Life doesn't work out like movies do. There's nothing magnificent or pure or happy-ending-movie-esque waiting for us.
...maybe? sorta?
I see it as more just a precursor to the album. It's sort of a concept album (not quite fully realized, but still somewhat), so it's more just an opening to the album that says "This is just what it is, nothing more."
I think the parade line is definitely a reference to Ferris Buller. (Love that movie).
This song sounds like it could be like the anti-theme to some super low budget indie film about sad suburban teenagers... like me. It's like the epiphany song. Plus it'd just be ironic if you put a song in your movie that said, "It’s just a life story, so there’s no climax."
I love this song.