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.
Countdown unless you're juvenile, let's go
God bless you're missed somewhere
We're sick for the big sun
It doesn't matter what you did
And if you did like you've been told
True, and everlasting, that's what you want
True
True and everlasting, that's what you want
Don't say no, you're breakfast eaten alone
Sister let go, you're borderline withdrawn
Down and lit from the bottom, there's a misfit
Better than it looks, better than it looks
Better than it looks, better than it looks
We're sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick
We're sick for the big sun
Alone though and drip drip drip drip drip drip drip
I realize that too
Your lonesome will
Is this knowledge?
As forgiven as you know somewhere
Your face will remain on
It doesn't matter what you did
And if you didn't ride, let's go
Could an everlasting, that's what you want
Could, could, an everlasting, that's what you want
Don't say no, you're breakfast eaten alone
Do you remember when twenty-one years was old?
Down and lit
It doesn't matter that you killed us
Better than it looks, better than it looks
Better than it looks, better than it looks
We're sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick
We're sick for the big sun
Alone and drip drip drip drip drip drip drip
I realize that too
True, true and everlasting
Didn't last that long
We're the lonesome
We're the lonesome, yeah
True and everlasting
Didn't last that long
True, true and everlasting
Didn't last that long
We're lonesome
We're the lonesome, yeah
True and everlasting
Didn't last that long
We're the lonesome
We're the lonesome
God bless you're missed somewhere
We're sick for the big sun
It doesn't matter what you did
And if you did like you've been told
True, and everlasting, that's what you want
True
True and everlasting, that's what you want
Don't say no, you're breakfast eaten alone
Sister let go, you're borderline withdrawn
Down and lit from the bottom, there's a misfit
Better than it looks, better than it looks
Better than it looks, better than it looks
We're sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick
We're sick for the big sun
Alone though and drip drip drip drip drip drip drip
I realize that too
Your lonesome will
Is this knowledge?
As forgiven as you know somewhere
Your face will remain on
It doesn't matter what you did
And if you didn't ride, let's go
Could an everlasting, that's what you want
Could, could, an everlasting, that's what you want
Don't say no, you're breakfast eaten alone
Do you remember when twenty-one years was old?
Down and lit
It doesn't matter that you killed us
Better than it looks, better than it looks
Better than it looks, better than it looks
We're sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick
We're sick for the big sun
Alone and drip drip drip drip drip drip drip
I realize that too
True, true and everlasting
Didn't last that long
We're the lonesome
We're the lonesome, yeah
True and everlasting
Didn't last that long
True, true and everlasting
Didn't last that long
We're lonesome
We're the lonesome, yeah
True and everlasting
Didn't last that long
We're the lonesome
We're the lonesome
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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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This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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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,
Page
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
"Do you remember when twenty-one years was old?"
What a great, heartbreaking line.
This song, 1901, Lasso, and Armistice are incredible songs off their new album. I listen to them everyday. I seriously think these guys need a run at the Grammys.
i think the "countdown" is to die. Its like a song about a person who is growing up, already past the prime of their life and is counting down to death.
the first line, its saying unless you're before the prime, you're not dying. and the song is basically reviewing over your life, and preparing to die, because the best of your life gone. my favorite line is "do you remember when 21 years was old" its saying remember when 21 was all grown up, when we were in high school, looking foward to growing up, and now past 21 you realize that its still young and the real phase growing up isnt as great as people may think. or simply remember when we were younger than 21 and we thought it was old, and now at (age) we wish we could go back to 21.
And to me the song is just filled with metaphors and ambiguity, and is up to interpretation
by the way, from the phoenix website these are the real lyrics
Countdown unless you’re juvenile let’s go God bless your miss somewhere We’re sick for the big sun It doesn’t matter what you did and if you did it like you been told
True and everlasting that’s what you want True and everlasting that’s what you want
Don’t say no your breakfast tears are gone Resist or let go, you’re borderline withdrawn Down, unlit from the bottom there is a misfit Better than it looks better than it looks Better than it looks better than it looks
We’re sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick We’re sick for the big sun We rumble and trip trip trip trip trip trip I realize that too
Hear the lonesome bell, Is this knowledge ? Ask forgiveness you know somewhere You’re fixed to an atom It doesn’t matter what you did and if you did it right let’s go
Cruel and everlasting that’s what you want Cruel and everlasting that’s what you want
Don’t say no your breakfast tears are wrong Do you remember when 21 years was old? Down unlit does it matters that you care the less ? Better than it looks better than it looks Better than it looks better than it looks
We’re sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick sick We’re sick for the big sun We rumble and trip trip trip trip trip trip I realize that too
True and everlasting, It didn’t last that long… We’re the lonesome, we’re the lonesome yell True and everlasting, It didn’t last that long…
i think it talks about how when we were young and how you think youre true and everlasting but things move on and how when you get older you look behind on your past and mistakes i just think overall its about reminiscing.
To me the big sun symbolizes the zenith of life, the height of youth, if you will. If you see the day cycle as the life cycle, it makes sense. Sunrise=Birth. Noon (big sun)= youth. Sunset=Declining years. Night=Death.
"Countdown unless you're juvenile let's go God bless your miss somewhere We're sick for the big sun It doesn't matter what you did and if you did it like you been told
True and everlasting that's what you want True and everlasting that's what you want
Don't say no your breakfast tears are gone Resist or let go, you're borderline withdrawn Down, unlit from the bottom there is a misfit Better than it looks, better than it looks Better than it looks, better than it looks
We're sick We're sick for the big sun We rumble and trip I realize that too"
I believe this to be an unapologetic paean to youth.
"Hear the lonesome bell, is this knowledge? Ask forgiveness you know somewhere You're fixed to an atom It doesn't matter what you did And if you did it right let's go
Cruel and everlasting that's what you want Cruel and everlasting that's what you want"
I sense a hint of regret. The writer recognizes the mistakes that were made and the people that may have been hurt.
"Don't say no your breakfast tears are wrong Do you remember when 21 years was old? Down unlit does it matters that you care the less? Better than it looks, better than it looks Better than it looks, better than it looks
We're sick We're sick for the big sun We rumble and trip I realize that too
True and everlasting, it didn't last that long... We're the lonesome, we're the lonesome yell True and everlasting, it didn't last that long..."
Time has past and the long life you thought you had ahead of you really isn't as long. You're old and lonesome.
In summary, I think this song is about the disappointment of adulthood as it is a reflection on youth.
LOVE THIS SONG!!! I'm twenty one now, and I really feel so full of life. I hope I don't lose this feeling:)
same
Now I'm not religious so don't ridicule me if I'm wrong and I'm not sure about Phoenix's religious preference, but I found this to be a christian song... Someone that is near death... Here's my interpretation:
Countdown unless you're juvenile let's go (countdown unless you're young) God bless your miss somewhere (self-explanatory) We're sick for the big sun (We're ready to die) (Big Sun - "the light") It doesn't matter what you did (Doesn't matter if you've sinned) and if you did it like you been told (if you've accepted Jesus....)
True and everlasting that's what you want (...You'll live for eternity, if that's what you want) True and everlasting that's what you want (...You'll live for eternity, if that's what you want)
Don't say no your breakfast tears are gone (Don't give up) Resist or let go, you're borderline withdrawn (Either fight or give up) Down, unlit from the bottom there is a misfit (Depressed, withdrawn, there's something wrong) Better than it looks, better than it looks (Life is better than this) Better than it looks, better than it looks (Life is better than this)
We're sick (We're dying) We're sick for the big sun (We're ready to die) We rumble and trip I realize that too
Hear the lonesome bell, is this knowledge? (Not sure about this line, besides again alluding to loneliness) Ask forgiveness you know somewhere (Ask for forgiveness (from Jesus)) You're fixed to an atom (You're only an immortal) It doesn't matter what you did (same) And if you did it right let's go (If you asked for forgiveness, let's go (die))
Cruel and everlasting that's what you want (This line seems to say... Hell is what you want) Cruel and everlasting that's what you want (Hell is what you want)
Don't say no your breakfast tears are wrong Do you remember when 21 years was old? Down unlit does it matters that you care the less? Better than it looks, better than it looks Better than it looks, better than it looks
We're sick We're sick for the big sun We rumble and trip I realize that too
True and everlasting, it didn't last that long We're the lonesome, we're the lonesome yell True and everlasting, it didn't last that long
Now even if I'm completely wrong on the lyrics... I'm pretty positive on the theme... Which is to just go through life, cause it's tough... have faith and love those around you and don't live in the past.
We're sick could also just be referring to sick of being depressed... They want to see a brighter future so they are sick for the big sun.
Favorite song off the new album.
f'ing love this band.
The correct lyrics are (taken from the CD sheet):
Countdown unless you're juvenile let's go God bless your miss somewhere We're sick for the big sun It doesn't matter what you did and if you did it like you been told
True and everlasting that's what you want True and everlasting that's what you want
Don't say no your breakfast tears are gone Resist or let go, you're borderline withdrawn Down, unlit from the bottom there is a misfit Better than it looks, better than it looks Better than it looks, better than it looks
We're sick We're sick for the big sun We rumble and trip I realize that too
Hear the lonesome bell, is this knowledge? Ask forgiveness you know somewhere You're fixed to an atom It doesn't matter what you did And if you did it right let's go
Cruel and everlasting that's what you want Cruel and everlasting that's what you want
Don't say no your breakfast tears are wrong Do you remember when 21 years was old? Down unlit does it mattersthat you care the less? Better than it looks, better than it looks Better than it looks, better than it looks
We're sick We're sick for the big sun We rumble and trip I realize that too
True and everlasting, it didn't last that long... We're the lonesome, we're the lonesome yell True and everlasting, it didn't last that long...
what exactly is the "big sun"?
My favorite song. Sick for the big sun.. no idea what it means but it makes so much sense.