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.
One two three four
Wakey wakey
Rise and shine
It's on again, off again, on again
Watch me fall
Like domino's
In pretty patterns
Fingers in the blackbird pie
I'm tingling tingling tingling
It's what you feel now
What you ought to, what you ought to
Reasonable and sensible
Dead from the neck up
Because I'm stuffed, stuffed, stuffed
We thought you had it in you
But no, no, no
For no real reason
Squeeze the tubes and empty bottles
Take a bow take a bow take a bow
It's what you feel now
What you ought to
What you ought to
An elephant thats in the room is
Tumbling tumbling tumbling
In duplicate and duplicate
Plastic bags and
Duplicate and triplicate
Dead from the neck up
Guess I'm stuffed, stuffed, stuffed
We thought you had it in you
But no, no, no
Exactly where do you get off
Is enough is enough is enough
I love you but enough is enough, enough
A last stop
There's no real reason
Wakey wakey
Rise and shine
It's on again, off again, on again
Watch me fall
Like domino's
In pretty patterns
Fingers in the blackbird pie
I'm tingling tingling tingling
It's what you feel now
What you ought to, what you ought to
Reasonable and sensible
Dead from the neck up
Because I'm stuffed, stuffed, stuffed
We thought you had it in you
But no, no, no
For no real reason
Squeeze the tubes and empty bottles
Take a bow take a bow take a bow
It's what you feel now
What you ought to
What you ought to
An elephant thats in the room is
Tumbling tumbling tumbling
In duplicate and duplicate
Plastic bags and
Duplicate and triplicate
Dead from the neck up
Guess I'm stuffed, stuffed, stuffed
We thought you had it in you
But no, no, no
Exactly where do you get off
Is enough is enough is enough
I love you but enough is enough, enough
A last stop
There's no real reason
Lyrics submitted by life_aint_chess, edited by George0312, Planet, Paymaan, Joshoewaa
Faust Arp Lyrics as written by Edward John O'brien Colin Charles Greenwood
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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finallyCLARITY, I think you've struck upon something. Faust's soul is forfeit when he says "this is the most perfect moment" (the "zenith of human happiness" according to wikipedia).
Is it a coincidence that in Videotape, the last line (of the song and the album) is "Whatever happens now, you shouldn't be afraid because I know today has been the most perfect day I've ever seen"
Yep, thats what ive always thought about this song. This song is the set up for Videotape. <br /> <br /> Faust Arp-like the whole album-is all about what it is to be human. It is a jumble of aspects of human life. wanting, having, experiencing, loving, hating, "tumbling," being stuck, etc. And throughout the song, there are subtle hints that life is not complete. There is no coherence, and the lyrics offer no genuine satisfaction. this is where the "Faust vs Mephistopheles" theme comes in. we are frustrated because we dont have the euphoria that we (and Faust) desire. <br /> <br /> Now that that is established, the setup for Videotape is complete. And at the end up Videotape, "No matter what happens now/you shouldnt be afraid/because i know today has been the most perfect day ive ever seen." There it is! We get the euphoria, because we realize that EVERY DAY IS THE MOST PERFECT DAY! WE REALIZE WHAT FAUST FAILED TO REALIZE! we realize that we shouldnt fight to achieve euphoria. we dont need to make a deal with mephistopheles to be happy. WE HAVE IT ALL RIGHT HERE! look around! we have so much beauty in being human, in loving, in EVERYTHING!<br /> <br /> ...wow...i think i just figured it out...