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 don't know what I've just said
Was it nasty? Why am I like that?
I could show you a good time
Then you'll know that we are blood-like
I've really caught my leg in a trap this time
Your majesty, can't you see?
I'm a sentimental, partly mental, I'm a bad friend
Ooh, I've got a little problem with my own head
But it feels right, it feels like I'm a belly full of dirt
I'm the milk that turned to curds and it feels right
Now stare at the ocean
While your friends all drown
We all need to learn to swim anyway
Oh my darling, hold your head up
Don't you listen, you're my baby girl
Oh my darling, hold your head up
Don't you listen, you're my baby girl
Oh my darling, hold your head up
Don't you listen, you're my baby girl
Oh, my darling, hold your head up now
Hold on, aren't I? I am my own life, own harm
Hold on, aren't I? I am my own life, own harm
Hold on, aren't I? I am my own life, own harm
Stare at the ocean
While your friends all drown
Now you're blood-like
Was it nasty? Why am I like that?
I could show you a good time
Then you'll know that we are blood-like
I've really caught my leg in a trap this time
Your majesty, can't you see?
I'm a sentimental, partly mental, I'm a bad friend
Ooh, I've got a little problem with my own head
But it feels right, it feels like I'm a belly full of dirt
I'm the milk that turned to curds and it feels right
Now stare at the ocean
While your friends all drown
We all need to learn to swim anyway
Oh my darling, hold your head up
Don't you listen, you're my baby girl
Oh my darling, hold your head up
Don't you listen, you're my baby girl
Oh my darling, hold your head up
Don't you listen, you're my baby girl
Oh, my darling, hold your head up now
Hold on, aren't I? I am my own life, own harm
Hold on, aren't I? I am my own life, own harm
Hold on, aren't I? I am my own life, own harm
Stare at the ocean
While your friends all drown
Now you're blood-like
Lyrics submitted by Mooncutter
Blood Like Lyrics as written by Michael L. Shepard
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
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.
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.
No Surprises
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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.
There needs to be comments for this song. I love the piano, especially at around 3:18 when it really kicks in. My favorite from the new album thus far.
I love this song, but what is it about?
i'm not totally sure what this song means, but I get a little I think.<br /> <br /> he's conflicted because he keeps screwing up, doing something wrong.<br /> He knows its wrong, but he keeps doing it anyways because it feels good. It feels so good it almost feels right. but he knows its not<br /> <br /> what that wrong action actually is I don't know.<br /> Some lines to back me up:<br /> I am my own life, my own harm<br /> i'm a bad friend<br /> we all need to learn to swim anyways (I need to learn to control this?)<br /> (the first two lines)<br /> <br /> I can't figure out the significance of the phrase "bloodlike" though<br /> <br /> <br /> such a great song though. I just heard it today for the first time, so these are my initial impressions.
"Hold on, one eye eyeing my old life. Hold on"
i feel like the term blood like associates with being human, and the ideals that society of perfection that aren't achievable.<br /> it seems to me that he is embracing his mistakes, enjoying the ability to revel in something that he knows is wrong because it is a very human feeling.<br /> the people that learn to swim are the people that learn to accept this, and the people that drown are those who chase perfection forever and thus live unhappily.<br /> <br /> as for the "one eye eyeing my old life" part, i think that is his realization and acceptance that humanity can't be perfect. he is looking back on his previous life, where he was just as unhappy as the rest of society trying to be a robot.
love this song
I don't know what it's about though. haha
In my opinion i think its about a guy telling the person he likes, that he is the way he is, whether he is an emotional mess, or a drug addiict, or whatever he is struggling with.
"I'm a sentimental, partly-mental, I'm a bad friend Ooh, I've got a little problem with my own head But it feels right, it feels like I'm a belly full of dirt I'm the milk that turned to curds and it feels right" That he feels okay the way he is and is telling her to not get discouraged.
also he reassures her that he does care about her "Oh, my darling, hold your head up Don't you listen? You're my baby girl Oh, my darling, hold your head up Don't you listen? You're my baby girl"
well this is my view on the song, maybe it could mean something totally different.
It's not "Hold on, aren't I, I am my own life, my own harm"
It is "hold on, one eye eying my old life, my old home" via lovedrugmusic.com & their cd booklet.
my favourite song by them. a wonderful, amazing, & talented band.