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.
So let me get this story straight
This was just a chance you had to take
Did I even cross your mind?
This will be the last time you cross mine
We were as thick as thieves
Just like a thief you stole the best of me
White lies and what lies in between
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
Marionette
(Are your strings tied tight for proper movement?)
Take a deep, deep breath
(I'm dying just to wrap these strings around your neck)
But I'll stitch my eyes wide open
'Cause I don't want to miss the look on your face
When I drive away
You know you're sharp
But sharp just doesn't cut it anymore
I'll show you a side of me you've never seen before
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
Well blame it all on bottoms up
And all the boys that kept filling your cup
I love the way you say
You don't remember anything
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
This was just a chance you had to take
Did I even cross your mind?
This will be the last time you cross mine
We were as thick as thieves
Just like a thief you stole the best of me
White lies and what lies in between
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
Marionette
(Are your strings tied tight for proper movement?)
Take a deep, deep breath
(I'm dying just to wrap these strings around your neck)
But I'll stitch my eyes wide open
'Cause I don't want to miss the look on your face
When I drive away
You know you're sharp
But sharp just doesn't cut it anymore
I'll show you a side of me you've never seen before
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
Well blame it all on bottoms up
And all the boys that kept filling your cup
I love the way you say
You don't remember anything
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
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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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"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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
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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.
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i love this song, i can really relate to it. i believe its about "getting screwed over", whether its your gf/bf cheating on you, or your best friend stabbing you in the back, etc.