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.
Romeo, where'd you go?
It's been years and still no sign
But, I'm keeping hope alive
Juliet, how you been?
You look like death
Like you sure could use some rest
From this place
Human racing
And the faces of people who pound at your door
They'll always want more
They want more
Hummingbird, what's the word?
Are you still your mothers child
Or have you found yourself a flower?
Flower child, you're still wild
Under a harvest moon
Can we eat of all the fruits
Of our youth?
Tell the truth now
Your heart is a strange little orange to peel
What's the deal?
What's the deal?
Mary, dear, how you feel?
Are you lost without your lamb?
You know I think I understand
Little lamb, what's your plan?
Greener pastures in the sky?
It's a shame you want to die, know why
Just to find you've been blinded
To the greenest of pastures they're right here on Earth
For what it's worth
You're not the first to break my heart
You're not the first to break my heart
You're not the first to break my heart
You're not the first to break my heart, oh
It's been years and still no sign
But, I'm keeping hope alive
Juliet, how you been?
You look like death
Like you sure could use some rest
From this place
Human racing
And the faces of people who pound at your door
They'll always want more
They want more
Hummingbird, what's the word?
Are you still your mothers child
Or have you found yourself a flower?
Flower child, you're still wild
Under a harvest moon
Can we eat of all the fruits
Of our youth?
Tell the truth now
Your heart is a strange little orange to peel
What's the deal?
What's the deal?
Mary, dear, how you feel?
Are you lost without your lamb?
You know I think I understand
Little lamb, what's your plan?
Greener pastures in the sky?
It's a shame you want to die, know why
Just to find you've been blinded
To the greenest of pastures they're right here on Earth
For what it's worth
You're not the first to break my heart
You're not the first to break my heart
You're not the first to break my heart
You're not the first to break my heart, oh
Lyrics submitted by mistercrinkles
Human Racing Lyrics as written by Anne Erin Clark
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Light Up The Sky
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
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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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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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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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.
I love the last two stanzas reminds me of Wallace Stevens poem Sunday Morning cscs.umich.edu/~crshalizi/Poetry/Stevens/sunday_morning.html
My favorite poem ever check it out.
But the last line is awesome something Sunday morning doesn't have, it expresses the anger and disappointment felt by someone who loses faith in God but doesn't necessarily want to. That or it can also signify the feelings felt by the people who love those who dedicate themselves to God.