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.
See the dwarfs an' see the giants
Which one would you choose to be
And if you can't get that together
Here's the answer, here's the key
You can freeze like thirty century man
Like a thirty century man
I'll save my breath and take it with me
Till a hundred years or so
Shame you won't be there to see me
Shaking hands with Charles de Gaulle
Play it cool an' Saran wrap all you can
Like a thirty century man
You can freeze like a thirty century man
Like a thirty century man
Which one would you choose to be
And if you can't get that together
Here's the answer, here's the key
You can freeze like thirty century man
Like a thirty century man
I'll save my breath and take it with me
Till a hundred years or so
Shame you won't be there to see me
Shaking hands with Charles de Gaulle
Play it cool an' Saran wrap all you can
Like a thirty century man
You can freeze like a thirty century man
Like a thirty century man
Lyrics submitted by Mount_Scoundrel, edited by brandon798
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Light Up The Sky
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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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."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
American Town
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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.
I think this fits best in the new futurama movie, bender's big score. Come on, im sure that they added charles de gaulle's head just to have this song in there.
you're exactly right on the Futurama part. In the commentary they say so, no kidding.
Pretty sure the "de Gaulle" reference is to his handshake with Henri Giraud in Casablanca in January of 1943. It's a pretty famous handshake.
France caved to the Nazis and the subsequent Vichy Regime was basically just a puppet of the occupiers. Charles de Gaulle left France and waited out the war in the UK. He coordinated the French resistance in exile. The Vichy Regime both sentenced him to death, and later to prison, in absentia.
General Giraud was a leader propped up by the West (mainly the U.S.) as the tides were turning in WWII. He was France's de facto leader at the end of the war.
General de Gaul attended the conference in Casablanca under protest, and the word is Churchill practically had to force him to shake hands with Giraud. The whole thing was filmed by Frank Capra. It was basically just theater. Post War de Gaulle ousted Giraud in very little time.
My read is that Scott takes a dim view of 'saran wrapping while you can'. IMO, the de Gaulle line sort of cements that.
But I say 'my opinion', because I'm a firm believer that interpretation is everything. Most songwriters couldn't tell you what they meant for sure anyway. Songwriting isn't essay writing.
And if they could, would it matter? It shouldn't. A song is how you respond to it. It isn't some sort of truth that is waiting to be discovered. Everyone has there own truths, and they are not wrong.
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Degaulle-freefrench.png
@jhorsager That's a VERY comment sentiment. I think that it actually matters what the writer meant... I also believe that the idea of this hypothetical, completely cryptic lyrical content that is absolutely subjective and ambiguous doesn't really make sense. <br /> So, in your mind, someone sits down to write something that means nothing? I can see it POSSIBLY (unlikely) happening in the current era. Many people are less evolved today, philosophically. So I could see literally anything going. But, back in the 60s, nope. Lyrics usually have a concrete, singularly objective meaning.<br /> Does it matter? My gosh... Uhh... Does a perspective relayed in art mater to you...? Idk... To me: Absolutely, it matters; like, solely. lol<br /> <br /> Man... I disagree with the popular public about everything... It's literally like reading 2+2=600... Yeah, I guess that can be your, "opinion..." technically. So many people think there is no objective meaning that is being relayed, whatsoever?! REALLY?
I cannot believe no one has commented on this brilliant song. Damn! I feel special. 'Play it cool...and saran-wrap all you can...be a 30 century man.'
...but I don't understand the Charles de Gaulle reference. Anybody know?
great song, can't help you out with Charles de Gaulle. I'm just surprised there is no one here to comment on his beautiful music.
Charles de Gaulle was a military leader for France in World War 2. Don't know what that has to do with the song but that's who he is for all though who don't know.
He was also kind of freakin giant at 6'4" so maybe that's some reference for you guys. They say that madame de Gaulle had to pay the undertaker 9$ extra for his casket because of his height.
The song was not composed specifically for The Life Aquatic, as it was originally from on of Scott Walkers albums: "Scott 3," released in '69.
My interpretation - I think the song is talking about impressions of greatness. Some people are historical dwarves and some are giants, but in the long run the difference depends on how well you're image ages. Or, in other words, it depends on how well you're remembered. A man might be world famous today, but will his fame last?
Is this the Scott Walker who used to play with Gary P Nunn and Ray Wylie Hubbard? I saw him visiting with Gary P Nunn, Drummer Danny Meazell, and Blues Legend Bugs Henderson at Poodies Memorial in Austin at The Back Yard. Scott has a great Myspace page too. Brillany songwriter.
I don
t know, correct me if Im right. I`m not a native english speaker, but I have this simple intuition about the de Gaulle thing. "I'll save my breath and take it with me Till a hundred years and so Shame you won't be there to see me Shaking hands with Charles de Gaulle"- I think its just about wasting time on mundane things like politics, when Scott is thinking about eons of greatness. The other interpretation( if the first one is just made up by my crappy english) is that he thinks of himself as an equal to big guys, kings, politics( art is as much important as politics). Why de Gaulle? Maybe its just his fascination about France, Jacques Brel etc.I think this song is about indecision, and justification of cowardice.
Your choices can make you a "dwarf" or a "giant", and if you cannot figure out what choice to make you can "freeze like a 30th Century Man."
I think the song evokes Charles De Gaulle because he played a background role in World War II. He was in exile most of the time, playing the role mostly of a symbol of freedom. Not until the war was over did he come to any substantial power.
That model of power is to "play it cool and Saran wrap what you can." Wait out whatever conflict is calling for you to make a choice. History will vindicate you.
Of course there is a healthy amount of sarcasm and irony at play here. If you choice not to choice how can you be a giant? I think Walker is telling us it is okay not to be bold, that it is okay to escape, and I think he is saying it both tongue and cheek, and with a mournful tone.
Written from a late 60's persecutive of the future.This is like a science fiction time travel story,travel ahead to the 30th century from post war 20th century Europe.