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.
Hearing your words out of my mouth again
Leaves me stuck with the key to
All these reasons you got in my head again
Buried here inside of me
Return all of this to sender
The mirror spoke to me and showed
All of this pretending is catching up to me
Lights out, wake up, stay calm, decide
Reach up, stand or be an eyesore
Lights out, wake up, stay calm, decide
Reach up, stand or be an eyesore
Staring out and over my words again
Makes me start to believe that
Wearing your lies over these words of mine
Always feels like my mistake
Return all of this to sender
The mirror spoke to me and showed
All of this pretending is catching up to me
Lights out, wake up, stay calm, decide
Reach up, stand or be an eyesore
Lights out, wake up, stay calm, decide
Reach up, stand or be an eyesore
Nothing is more important
Than what people think about you
The worry, the wonder... it's all worth it
Return all of this to sender
The mirror spoke to me and showed
All of this pretending is catching up to me
Lights out, wake up, stay calm, decide
Reach up, stand or be an eyesore
Lights out, wake up, stay calm, decide
Reach up, stand or be an eyesore
Leaves me stuck with the key to
All these reasons you got in my head again
Buried here inside of me
Return all of this to sender
The mirror spoke to me and showed
All of this pretending is catching up to me
Lights out, wake up, stay calm, decide
Reach up, stand or be an eyesore
Lights out, wake up, stay calm, decide
Reach up, stand or be an eyesore
Staring out and over my words again
Makes me start to believe that
Wearing your lies over these words of mine
Always feels like my mistake
Return all of this to sender
The mirror spoke to me and showed
All of this pretending is catching up to me
Lights out, wake up, stay calm, decide
Reach up, stand or be an eyesore
Lights out, wake up, stay calm, decide
Reach up, stand or be an eyesore
Nothing is more important
Than what people think about you
The worry, the wonder... it's all worth it
Return all of this to sender
The mirror spoke to me and showed
All of this pretending is catching up to me
Lights out, wake up, stay calm, decide
Reach up, stand or be an eyesore
Lights out, wake up, stay calm, decide
Reach up, stand or be an eyesore
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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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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”
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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.
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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.
I interpreted this song as someone struggling with self-depreciating thoughts brought on by anxiety or bullying. The "I'm ugly, no one finds me attractive" thoughts or less obvious, personal traits of oneself.
My main reason is the voices toward the end:
"Nothing is more important than what people think about you."
"The worry, the wonder, it's all worth it."
"Hearing your words out of my mouth again"
"Return all of this to sender" -This seems more of the battle to start overcoming the negative mindsets. He seems to intend to start ignoring or rejecting the ideas anxiety/bullies are leading him to believe.