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.
Take cover
Signs don't show
You drove me
Off the road
But you let go
'Cause your hope is gone
And every question fades away
It's a shame you don't know what you're running from
Would your bones have to break and your lights turn off
Would it take the end of time to hear you heart's false start?
You know this is your biggest mistake
What a waste, what a waste, what a waste
And of all the things you never explained
Well you know this is your biggest mistake
You tread water
Fighting for the air in your lungs
Move
Move closer
Maybe you can right all your wrongs
But you let go
'Cause your hope is gone
And every answer fades away
It's a shame you don't know what you're running from
Would your bones have to break and your lights turn off
Would it take the end of time to hear your hearts false start?
You know this is your biggest mistake
What a waste, what a waste, what a waste
And of all the things you never explained
Well you know this is your biggest mistake
Wipe the mud spray from the face stop the engine
Stop pretending
Wipe the mud spray from your face stop the engine,
Stop pretending, that you're still breathing
It's a shame you don't know what you're running from
Would your bones have to break and your lights turn off
Would it take the end of time to hear your hearts false start?
You know this is your biggest mistake
What a waste, what a waste, what a waste
And of all the things you never explained
Well you know this is your biggest mistake
You know this is your biggest mistake
What a waste, what a waste, what a waste
And of all the things you never explained
Well you know this is your biggest mistake
Signs don't show
You drove me
Off the road
But you let go
'Cause your hope is gone
And every question fades away
It's a shame you don't know what you're running from
Would your bones have to break and your lights turn off
Would it take the end of time to hear you heart's false start?
You know this is your biggest mistake
What a waste, what a waste, what a waste
And of all the things you never explained
Well you know this is your biggest mistake
You tread water
Fighting for the air in your lungs
Move
Move closer
Maybe you can right all your wrongs
But you let go
'Cause your hope is gone
And every answer fades away
It's a shame you don't know what you're running from
Would your bones have to break and your lights turn off
Would it take the end of time to hear your hearts false start?
You know this is your biggest mistake
What a waste, what a waste, what a waste
And of all the things you never explained
Well you know this is your biggest mistake
Wipe the mud spray from the face stop the engine
Stop pretending
Wipe the mud spray from your face stop the engine,
Stop pretending, that you're still breathing
It's a shame you don't know what you're running from
Would your bones have to break and your lights turn off
Would it take the end of time to hear your hearts false start?
You know this is your biggest mistake
What a waste, what a waste, what a waste
And of all the things you never explained
Well you know this is your biggest mistake
You know this is your biggest mistake
What a waste, what a waste, what a waste
And of all the things you never explained
Well you know this is your biggest mistake
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
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Cajun Girl
Little Feat
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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”
No Surprises
Radiohead
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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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
Love this song! <3