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.
When I got to the party
They gave me a forty
And I must've been thirsty
'Cause I drank it so quickly
When I got to the bedroom
There was somebody waiting
And it isn't my fault
That the barbarian raped me
When I went to get tested
I brought along my best friend
Melissa Mahoney
Who had once been molested
And she knew how to get there
She knew all the nurses
They were all really friendly
But the test came out positive
Uh-oh
I've seen better days but I don't care
I just sent a letter in the mail
When I got my abortion
I brought along my boyfriend
We got there an hour
Before the appointment
And outside the building
There were all these annoying
Fundamentalist Christians
We tried to ignore them
Oh-oh
I've had better days but I don't care
Oasis got my letter in the mail
When vacation was over
The word was all over
That I was a crack whore
Melissa had told them
And so now were not talking
Except we have tickets
To see blur in October
And I think were still going
Oh-oh
I've seen better days but I don't care
Oh I just got a letter in the mail
Oasis sent a photograph
Its autographed and everything
Melissa's gonna wet herself
I swear
They gave me a forty
And I must've been thirsty
'Cause I drank it so quickly
When I got to the bedroom
There was somebody waiting
And it isn't my fault
That the barbarian raped me
When I went to get tested
I brought along my best friend
Melissa Mahoney
Who had once been molested
And she knew how to get there
She knew all the nurses
They were all really friendly
But the test came out positive
Uh-oh
I've seen better days but I don't care
I just sent a letter in the mail
When I got my abortion
I brought along my boyfriend
We got there an hour
Before the appointment
And outside the building
There were all these annoying
Fundamentalist Christians
We tried to ignore them
Oh-oh
I've had better days but I don't care
Oasis got my letter in the mail
When vacation was over
The word was all over
That I was a crack whore
Melissa had told them
And so now were not talking
Except we have tickets
To see blur in October
And I think were still going
Oh-oh
I've seen better days but I don't care
Oh I just got a letter in the mail
Oasis sent a photograph
Its autographed and everything
Melissa's gonna wet herself
I swear
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More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
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/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I think it's odd that everyone has completely ignored the irony of the title. Amanda could have chosen any band for the title/lyrics in the song, and yet she chose Oasis. Regardless of whether or not she's (amanda's) actually a fan, the girl in the song is using the letter as a sort of oasis, something that makes it easier for her to say 'I don't care' about what happened to her, so she can get over it. Also, I don't think the song is about how dismissive youth is today about issues like abortion and rape. Amanda actually said in one of her blogs that it's the opposite, and about how she hated that in today's society, rape victims are portrayed as silently suffering victims who never move on from what happened to them. If you watch her facial expressions in the video, I think it's pretty obvious that she's mocking the 'hush hush' atomosphere that surrounds victims of sexual abuse. It's especially in these lines: when i went to get tested i brought along my best friend melissa mahoney who had once been molested
and she knew how to get there she knew all the nurses they were all really friendly