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.
Dedication's the price you pay
Initiated are coddled and caged
Before you walk, as soon as you crawl
Hope is pointless when you're stuck in the trawl
Fuck the freshman lectures and blandishments
They just betray impoverished accomplishments
The puppet masters fear originality
They tighten up the tethers and they shackle your feet
Submission complete
Young recruits never have a chance
Enticed to the drill, admonished to dance
Early to rise and early to shine
Life is long but the end is nigh
Break the guilty trammels from yesteryear
Remember how rejuvenation conquers all fears
Lowly opportunists take commanding roles
And hawk ultimatums so their weakness won't show
The sad reflection of dead ambition
You live for nothing
Submission complete
Yeah, break the guilty trammels from yesteryear
Remember how the taste of failure makes it all clear
The lowly opportunists take commanding roles
And hawk ultimatums so their weakness won't show
The sad reflection of dead ambition
You live for nothing
Expectation, indoctrination
Life's damnation
Submission complete
Dying on your feet
Submission complete
A total defeat
Initiated are coddled and caged
Before you walk, as soon as you crawl
Hope is pointless when you're stuck in the trawl
Fuck the freshman lectures and blandishments
They just betray impoverished accomplishments
The puppet masters fear originality
They tighten up the tethers and they shackle your feet
Submission complete
Young recruits never have a chance
Enticed to the drill, admonished to dance
Early to rise and early to shine
Life is long but the end is nigh
Break the guilty trammels from yesteryear
Remember how rejuvenation conquers all fears
Lowly opportunists take commanding roles
And hawk ultimatums so their weakness won't show
The sad reflection of dead ambition
You live for nothing
Submission complete
Yeah, break the guilty trammels from yesteryear
Remember how the taste of failure makes it all clear
The lowly opportunists take commanding roles
And hawk ultimatums so their weakness won't show
The sad reflection of dead ambition
You live for nothing
Expectation, indoctrination
Life's damnation
Submission complete
Dying on your feet
Submission complete
A total defeat
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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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.
George Orwell said " It is possible to dehumanize all society, and for life to go on.."
My own interpretation of this relates to; put in your best effort in the given structural limitations your confined in.. and when submission is complete.. you either make the grade or your not good enough.. Like applying for college or like the asshole guy who took me aside today and told me I didn't make the baseball team and come back next year...
But actually, It seems to may apply to college structural mandates to form the nations youth... and we all know thats a circus.. of professorial senility.. ( I know from experience)..
But from the lyrics.. it seems to be most likely about military recruits. The predominant core of them, uneducated, joined to put some kind of substantial purpose in their lives because they cant see past it and feel the urgency to do something of the sort.. they don't have the wisdom yet to understand that its merely a "trawl" of irrational indoctrination...
and for the many whom died for our country.. Submission Complete.. for them now.