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.
Thirty-one today
What a thing to say
Drinking Guinness in the afternoon
Taking shelter in the black cocoon
[Chorus: ]
I thought my life would be different somehow
I thought my life would be better by now
I thought my life would be different somehow
I thought my life would be better by now
But it's not, and I don't know where to turn
Called some guy I knew
Had a drink or two
And we fumbled as the day grew dark
I pretended that I felt a spark
[Chorus: ]
No, it's not, and I don't know where to turn
No, it's not, and I don't know where to turn
Easter comes and goes
Maybe Jesus knows
So you roll on with the best you can
Getting loaded, watching CNN
[Chorus: ]
No, it's not, and I don't know where to turn
No, it's not, and I don't know where to turn
No, it's not, and I don't know
What a thing to say
Drinking Guinness in the afternoon
Taking shelter in the black cocoon
[Chorus: ]
I thought my life would be different somehow
I thought my life would be better by now
I thought my life would be different somehow
I thought my life would be better by now
But it's not, and I don't know where to turn
Called some guy I knew
Had a drink or two
And we fumbled as the day grew dark
I pretended that I felt a spark
[Chorus: ]
No, it's not, and I don't know where to turn
No, it's not, and I don't know where to turn
Easter comes and goes
Maybe Jesus knows
So you roll on with the best you can
Getting loaded, watching CNN
[Chorus: ]
No, it's not, and I don't know where to turn
No, it's not, and I don't know where to turn
No, it's not, and I don't know
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Light Up The Sky
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Mountain Song
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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."
I Can't Go To Sleep
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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.
No Surprises
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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.
I absolutely love this song! I never get tired of Aimee Mann's songs about "losers."
It's a tough thing on your birthday when that moment comes where you examine your life and compare it to your age, compare it to other people more successful than you. Then you realize that you're not paying off a mortgage, still living in a one bedroom apartment, ordering takeout most of the time and having a beer or a glass of wine alone in the middle of the day. You look around and you feel like you lack that support net that good friends, family or a meaningful relationship can provide. You fail to find meaning in your situation, that thing that keeps you driven to move forward. But you don't do anything about it because you're hampered and you sink deeper in the life you've grown accustomed to.
Yeah, after my first listening to this song I got freaked out about my next birthday!
I agree with xxEmerxx -- I love the video for this song! It's goofy and make me laugh out loud a few times! Aimee Mann looks good in a mustache!
I can't believe no-one's commented on this yet! Still, it's a great song. The narrator at 31 feels she's wasted half her life so she tries to make up for it by trying to embark on a relationship with a guy she's not in love with. Perhaps life is a competition for her, she has to get "this" done before that and "this" done now and so on and so forth. But her resolution goes, and carries on wasting her life and getting drunk and leaves it up to the Big Man Upstairs. She says "I thought my life would be better by now" even though she fails to realise it's her own fault for not trying to make the most of life. Anybody seen the video, it's hilarious! Especially the kitten bit...
hmm 2 comments on a song like this? Shows me just about everything I need to know the universe is fucked.
I related to this immediatly,amazing lyrics and songwriting talent. Especially the part about CNN :)
Wow this is depressing. And also to realize how old this song is. When you get old it’s tough. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it to listen to songs that are this bleak. But she does such a great job of capturing these feelings. Follow her Instagram, especially her comics, it’s worth it….