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've got a bad taste in me
It's like I've been robbed of something
I once was in my childhood memories
And it's buried in sandboxes backyard where we used to see
That dreams could come true if believed
The sidewalks scream our names
We are so far from home, far from home
I've got a bad pain in my heart
It's like the first time that I looked in your eyes
The first time it all feel apart
And it's buried in sandboxes backyard where we used to see
That dreams could come true if believed
The sidewalks scream our names
We are so far from home, far from home
But now we are so far from home, far from home
All I have is words to which I must lay
I scribble them down hoping they'll save me
Me but I'm lost, I'm so lost
These pages will burn and I will pass away
Yesterday is gone and I just can't shake
The fact that I'm lost, I'm so lost
But now we are so far from home
Far from home
Now, we are so far from home
Far from home
But now we are so far from home
Far from home
Now, we are so far from home
Far from home
We are so far from home
Far from home
Now, we are so far from home
Far from home
Now, we are so far from home
Far from home
It's like I've been robbed of something
I once was in my childhood memories
And it's buried in sandboxes backyard where we used to see
That dreams could come true if believed
The sidewalks scream our names
We are so far from home, far from home
I've got a bad pain in my heart
It's like the first time that I looked in your eyes
The first time it all feel apart
And it's buried in sandboxes backyard where we used to see
That dreams could come true if believed
The sidewalks scream our names
We are so far from home, far from home
But now we are so far from home, far from home
All I have is words to which I must lay
I scribble them down hoping they'll save me
Me but I'm lost, I'm so lost
These pages will burn and I will pass away
Yesterday is gone and I just can't shake
The fact that I'm lost, I'm so lost
But now we are so far from home
Far from home
Now, we are so far from home
Far from home
But now we are so far from home
Far from home
Now, we are so far from home
Far from home
We are so far from home
Far from home
Now, we are so far from home
Far from home
Now, we are so far from home
Far from home
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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,
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
wow. no comments? this song is amazing.
phenomenal!
..pretty obvious meaning... just the feeling that comes when you're far away from where you're used to being.. whether that's physical or mental distance.
I like this song on more of a spirtual level. We are far from our REAL home. This world is temporary and eventually our home will be in heaven.
I love this song because it says, "Look at the innocence we had, and how we threw it away." That we let ourselves slip from the ideal we had for ourselves when we were children. When all we wanted was to be a mommy or police officer, and we let our lives change--into better or worse.
I always seem to pair this song with 'Seattle', both from the "Seattle Sessions" album.
I love the line about the sandboxes. It makes me think of how when I was little, anything was possible, and life was easy. But now growing up, and moving away, you're still trying to reach your goals, but it's harder and you miss being young and believing.
My favorite line is "dreams could come true if believed". I wrote that on a card and stuck it up on my wall.
Also, the song is just beautiful. It's relaxing and heartwrenching all at the time.
(NOTE THAT I SAY THESE THINGS IN A MUSICIAN POINT OF VIEW AND THAT I KNOW HOW MOST SONG WRITERS TRY TO WRITE THEIR SONGS...i.e. most all songs are written in a way so that everyone who listens to it can possibly relate to it. the song doesn't mention anything that is too specific too make someone say "well that doesnt apply to me!) in my opinion...this song can come off to well anyone in many ways. to me, this song first came off as 2 completely different things. 1. A spiritual type meaning. we all get so far from God (well those who believe in the TRUTH that is..) It is a horrible feeling to be away from God and that it gives enough inspiration to actually write about just that. to be close to Him, well everything is GREAT. but to be away, even just turned around, feels miserable once the good times have come and gone.
the second way i interpreted this that it could be about a girl. he feels that he has gotten separated from his girl at heart and emotionally and well i am sure we all know how that feels and when we are truly in love with each other and we know it but one gets even a little emotionally detached, it kills inside.
COMMENTS? QUESTIONS?
He does a great job of leaving his lyrics open ended ,but the whole cd has the trend of them missing Seattle and that being a rock band isn't all that he had dreamed it would be when he was a little kid. No when he's on the road all he has are his lyrics that he scribbles down on paper hoping they'll give him meaning, but they can't. All of it will go away and he just wants to be home so he doesn't feel lost anymore.