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.
I must have been sleeping
I must have been drinking
I haven't been dreaming about you for years
There was a sharp turn and a sunburn
I was too cool for high school that year
That year
It must have have been new years
No one invited you
You took things too far
But I missed you and your antics
You were lonesome and blue eyed
And so special to us
You should have taken a long break
Instead of a long drop from a high place
Ten years I never spoke your name
Now it feels good to say it
Your my friend again
Said, he forgave you, I said, I hated you
He was the bigger man, I was sixteen
All the innocence it took for
You to finally made the year book that year
That year
You could have taken some time away
Instead of a long drop, instead of a leap of faith
Ten years I never spoke your name
Now it feels good to say that
Your my friend again
Your my friend again
I was angry, I was a Baptist
I was a daughter, I was wrong
I must have been drinking
I haven't been dreaming about you for years
There was a sharp turn and a sunburn
I was too cool for high school that year
That year
It must have have been new years
No one invited you
You took things too far
But I missed you and your antics
You were lonesome and blue eyed
And so special to us
You should have taken a long break
Instead of a long drop from a high place
Ten years I never spoke your name
Now it feels good to say it
Your my friend again
Said, he forgave you, I said, I hated you
He was the bigger man, I was sixteen
All the innocence it took for
You to finally made the year book that year
That year
You could have taken some time away
Instead of a long drop, instead of a leap of faith
Ten years I never spoke your name
Now it feels good to say that
Your my friend again
Your my friend again
I was angry, I was a Baptist
I was a daughter, I was wrong
Lyrics submitted by tracy_rathbun, edited by frankie2j9
That Year Lyrics as written by Phillip John Hanseroth Brandi M. Carlile
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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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,
"I must have been sleeping, I must have been drinking, I haven't been dreaming about you for years. there was a sharp Turn and a sunburn I was too cool for high school that year."
To me this says Brandi (assuming this she's supposed to be the 'I') spent her time in oblivion, that she didn't begin to notice the warning signs about her friend. she must have begun to remember about her friend again, that she's tried her best to forget her friend and hasn't dreamt about him/her in so long every since the suicide. She remembers that huge turn that happened in her high school year and that pain like a sunburn that is inflicted on her that year.
"Must have have been new years. no one invited you, Took things too far but I missed you and your antics. You were lonesome and blue-eyed and so special to us." there must have been some kind of new years party--maybe one of those high school big parties where everyone is invited, yet her friend wasn't invited. her friend took things to far, meaning that's when her friend committed suicide. 'i missed you and your antics' make me think of her friend before the friend began to feel depressed, before that year, how her friend must have been one of those pranksters people, something like that. the next line is self explanatory, her friend was lonesome seeing as Brandi began with her new crew in all the high school parties.
"You could have taken a long break Instead of a long drop from a high place. Ten years I never spoke your name. Now it feels good to say it. your my friend again." Her friend should have just stopped and thought, not been impulsive. should have just taken a break and take a breath and relax, instead of jumping off to his/her death from a high place (reading it literally) or maybe even her friend began with drugs and such things that dropped her friend in life, ruining his/her life. for ten years brandi felt this anger towards her friend for having done this, to having hurt her so badly by it. and now at last, she has forgiven her friend.
"Daddy Said he forgave you, I said I hated you, You was the bigger man, I was sixteen. All the innocence it took well I guess You finally made the year book. That year. That year." Her dad even forgave her friend...or from this line it could've even been a relative of hers. A brother/sister/cousin/etc. but still she hated her friend for it. her friend was the bigger man, she was just a 16 year old. in the next line, i get the impression that her friend was never that cool kid, or the kid who no one knew about. that year when her friend finally died, her friend finally made the yearbook, as in finally a mention of that friend in it. you know how yearbooks have the best couple and such? those kind of things, her friend was excluded in, and now that her friend made the decision to commit suicide they actually mentioned them for once.
"You should have taken a long break instead of a long drop, Instead of a leap of faith, ten years I never spoke your name. Now it feels good to say that your my friend again. Your my friend again." 'instead of a leap of faith' still confuses me. i'd say that this might have to do religion? once you killed yourself off, you'd be in heaven and finally in peace. her friend hoped for that peace in heaven at last, but it was just a leap of faith.
"I was angry, I was a baptist, I was a daughter, I was wrong." i was angry, that's pretty self explanatory, she was angry at her friend for a long time for what he/she did. i was a baptist, i don't know much of that religion, but they might be against suicide/whatever her friend did, hence influencing how she thought it was horrible. i was a daughter, not sure, the line about her dad might have to do with it, she didn't agree with him to forgive her friend. i was wrong, all her thoughts were wrong. and the 'was' in it all means...well...she was, she's changed and loves her friend again.