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.
Raise your hands now to testify
Your confession will be crucified
You're a sacrificial suicide
Like a dog that's been sodomized
Stand up! All the white boys
Sit down! And the black girls
You're the soldiers of the new world
Put your faith in a miracle
And it's non-denominational
Join the choir we will be singing
In the church of wishful thinking
A fire burns today
Of blasphemy and genocide
The sirens of decay
Will infiltrate the faith fanatics
Oh bless me Lord for I have sinned
It's been a lifetime since I last confessed
I threw my crutches in "the river of a shadow of doubt"
And I'll be dressed up in my Sunday best
Say a prayer for the family
Drop a coin for humanity
Ain't this uniform so flattering?
I never asked you a god damned thing
A fire burns today
Of blasphemy and genocide
The sirens of decay
Will infiltrate the faith fanatics
Don't test me
Second guess me
Protest me
You will disappear
I want to know who's allowed to breed
All the dogs who never learned to read
Missionary politicians
And the cops of a new religion
A fire burns today
Of blasphemy and genocide
The sirens of decay
Will infiltrate the inside
Yeah
Your confession will be crucified
You're a sacrificial suicide
Like a dog that's been sodomized
Stand up! All the white boys
Sit down! And the black girls
You're the soldiers of the new world
Put your faith in a miracle
And it's non-denominational
Join the choir we will be singing
In the church of wishful thinking
A fire burns today
Of blasphemy and genocide
The sirens of decay
Will infiltrate the faith fanatics
Oh bless me Lord for I have sinned
It's been a lifetime since I last confessed
I threw my crutches in "the river of a shadow of doubt"
And I'll be dressed up in my Sunday best
Say a prayer for the family
Drop a coin for humanity
Ain't this uniform so flattering?
I never asked you a god damned thing
A fire burns today
Of blasphemy and genocide
The sirens of decay
Will infiltrate the faith fanatics
Don't test me
Second guess me
Protest me
You will disappear
I want to know who's allowed to breed
All the dogs who never learned to read
Missionary politicians
And the cops of a new religion
A fire burns today
Of blasphemy and genocide
The sirens of decay
Will infiltrate the inside
Yeah
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Light Up The Sky
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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.
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Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
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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.
Mocking the rituals of various Religions such as praising by means of raising your hands to the sky, confessing your sins to a medium of God and suicide missions. Religion is "Fucking the Dog" when it comes to progression of our society and ideology of the world. Racism and sexism in Religion, people fighting wars in the name of their God and Religion.
Believing in a concept that has no proof or logic, separating people instead of joining them together through means such as Religious schools and community's. Relying on hope instead of factual thinking, almost adolescent. People acting like Gods in the name of their Religion killing people by the masses who oppose their view and take the name of another God. Religion is destroying our advancement in life, with more awareness and the obvious signs people of faith will eventually realize how ridiculous the concept of Religion or a God is.
Mocking Religious rituals such as confessing yours sins to a Priest or dressing up for Church on a Sunday Mass. Praying and giving money as a means of "help" to others, and never questioning the motives of a Religion just simply accepting everything that's being told to you without reason. There are so many Religions and Gods out there, which one is right? Certain culture encourage ignorance my means of lack of education to see the truth and make people of their community sheep and slave to their Religious cause. Religion is mixed in with politics when it shouldn't be, and the "word of God" is propagated by the politicians in campaigns.