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.
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
I couldn't agree with Crystalline888 more. I rarely listen to Rihanna, yet see no harm with this song.
@ those who complain about how sexually consumed our culture has become... perhaps Saudi Arabia (or many Middle Eastern countries) would be a better fit for you. There, you may have all the censorship, restriction, male-domination, and sexual prohibition your little heart desires. America exercises hegemony over the world (i.e. is the most powerful nation in the world) precisely because of our love of freedom, including freedom of the media.
@ those who call Rihanna, and people who enjoy Rihanna's music, all sorts of vulgar, double-digit IQ words, may I simply say: much of the music sung/rapped/ranted, etc...by male artists are just as sexually charged as this song, and actually a whole lot more. Yet no one seems to be bothered. The fact of the matter, my friends, is that females are much more sexually restricted and censored than their male counterparts, as evidenced even by this thread. Do you call everyone who listens to Lil Wayne a slut, whore, etc? No, you don't - even though his lyrics are a hundred times more raunchy. Take "Lollipop," a number one hit, for example: "she lick lick lick me like a lollipop." So if you nutcases are going to be offended and "concerned" about anything, I suggest you start with artists like Lil Wayne.
@ my girl Crystalline888. You are so right. Men (and sadly, even women) seem to reject this song precisely because Rihanna is taking control of her sexuality. So often, women are so so so completely marginalized in bed, and giving men pleasure and control is emphasized... Rihanna seems to suggest that women need to re-think this, and think equally about themselves, sexually: "Babe if I don't feel it I ain't faking no-no." I feel this song can easily be read as a female-equality message. THANK YOU RIHANNA!
Finally...a lot of you soooooo need to chill. Chillax. Relax. Calm down. Lighten up. What have you. Damn, it just seems like there are so many ignorant, narrow-minded, sexist, vulgar people around.
Good to know that SOMEONE out there still believes in freedom of speech! You and Crystalline888 couldn't be more right! Here is my response to her which is equally and response to you.<br /> <br /> <br /> THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I actually became very depressed reading all these negative reviews simply because it is a woman speaking about her sexuality. I am not even a big Rihanna fan but I have to give her respect now because I can see she probably got a lot of criticism in general going by most of these comments.<br /> Sex is natural, no one would be here without it! and it is more than okay to take pleasure in it!<br /> <br /> Side note: considering all the rock and roll/ rap videos which show women only as sexual objects it is equally okay for a woman to do the same. I like also that she goes after a root which men are very sensitive about THEIR PENIS SIZE!!!!!! (" come on rude boy, are you big enough?" IF I feel obliged to please a man in one of those rock/roll/rap videos I can always starve myself, get implants, plastic surgery, dye my hair, etc. But YOU will never be able to change your penis size!!! (surgery only give 1/4 inch most). So how does it feel to be judged and criticize for something you cant naturally control? (Which is what most modern women feel they must go through)<br /> <br /> She is giving those men a dose of their own medicine<br /> (I don't have a problem with women being sexualized if you choose to do so BUT a woman should be equally be free to do so without being called a whore, etc.!!<br /> <br /> Thank You again, it is good to know not everyone out there is narrow-minded and pro-censorship.<br />