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 go through all this before you wake up
To feel happier and safe with you again
I go through all this before you wake up
To feel happier and safe with you up here
I'm back at my cliff
Still throwing things off
I listen to the sound they make on their way down
When it lands, will my eyes be closed or open?
I go through all this before you wake up
To feel happier and safe with you again
I go through all this before you wake up
To fell happier and safe with you again
And safe with you up here
To feel happier and safe with you again
I go through all this before you wake up
To feel happier and safe with you up here
I'm back at my cliff
Still throwing things off
I listen to the sound they make on their way down
When it lands, will my eyes be closed or open?
I go through all this before you wake up
To feel happier and safe with you again
I go through all this before you wake up
To fell happier and safe with you again
And safe with you up here
Lyrics submitted by smorkinlabbit
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
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/
I liked this song from the first time i heard it. It made me fell optimistic and joyful but I needed more than 10 years of life experience since than, to fully understand its meaning.
Well I think that this is about her spiritual awaking, when she realized that one can be happy only "on top of the mountain" fully conscious an connected to spiritual part of its existence. She is aware of that she is only awake (spiritually) before everybody else, and that she is in front of the time when everybody is going to awake anyway. She is trowing materialism away from herself and safe in her spiritual position (top of the mountain) she is playing with thing that crashes "on the way down". This is a game when she proves herself everyday that spiritual is above material since she (from the spiritual position - from top of the mountain) can easily control matter and keep herself (like personification of spirituality) unchanged and constant. She is so free in that game that, at the end, she imagine trowing herself from the top of the mountain like all other things, her body smashes and damage at the end, but there's a still doubt if there is a life after dead or not when she hit the ground totally broken (will my eyes be closed or open). She is not sure in that last thing, but one way or another she continues to fell happy since she discovered an accepted her dual nature fully. On the one hand she has a body that can be easily destroyed and damaged and from the other side she has soul (spirit, consciousness...) that is immortal, unchangeable and impossible to damage, so as long as she is aware of herself and fully conscious of her dual nature (on the top of the mountain) she can be happy and safe of dead in conventional way.