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.
I relate to your kind, your design, your devotion to wave.
Get your brain on the prize then dive inside,
The mindset of a killer with your mind out of phase.
It's a game that we like. We crave yet nobody wins.
Any way you decide, you try but you die,
The mindset of a killer,
With your gaze you paint the room blood red
With tears pouring from the stage.
And you cant stop now row by row almost out.
Covered in black and gold no one cares and no one knows.
My gift to the world outside.
It's OK, I'm all right
Now open your empty hands
'cause here comes the fun here comes the end.
Click erase the device, give thanks, then clear out the room.
Blow kisses, wave them goodbye, goodnight.
Mindset of a killer, with your gaze,
You paint the room blood red with tears pour from the stage.
And you cant stop now row by row almost out.
Covered in black and gold no one cares and no one knows.
My gift to the world outside.
It's OK, I'm all right
Now open your empty hands
'cause here comes the fun here comes the end.
Get your brain on the prize then dive inside,
The mindset of a killer with your mind out of phase.
It's a game that we like. We crave yet nobody wins.
Any way you decide, you try but you die,
The mindset of a killer,
With your gaze you paint the room blood red
With tears pouring from the stage.
And you cant stop now row by row almost out.
Covered in black and gold no one cares and no one knows.
My gift to the world outside.
It's OK, I'm all right
Now open your empty hands
'cause here comes the fun here comes the end.
Click erase the device, give thanks, then clear out the room.
Blow kisses, wave them goodbye, goodnight.
Mindset of a killer, with your gaze,
You paint the room blood red with tears pour from the stage.
And you cant stop now row by row almost out.
Covered in black and gold no one cares and no one knows.
My gift to the world outside.
It's OK, I'm all right
Now open your empty hands
'cause here comes the fun here comes the end.
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
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,
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 have a lot of trouble discerning what’s going on in the song. But by the name, we can assume that the godly king and queen have fathered a son, a prince, who seems to reside on Earth. I believe in this song the protagonist is addressing his son, who despite his godly origins, epitomizes the problems of humanity.
“I relate to your kind, your design, your devotion to wave Get your brain on the prize, then dive inside The mindset of a killer with your mind out of phase”
The king says, ‘Son I appreciate your ambition, go for it.’ But his instructions are tinged with grave concern, as he realizes his son has a mindset that is potentially very dangerous to itself and to the Earth and beyond. As the first son of the Diamond Eyes, of the god and goddess, the Prince has potentially unlimited power.
The king explains his worldview to his son: “It’s a game that we like, we crave, yet nobody wins Any way you decide, you try, but you die”
He explains that earthly endeavors ultimately get you nowhere. The Prince realizes this is true and he is enraged and saddened at the Earth’s fate. “The mindset of a killer, with your gaze you paint the room blood red With tears pouring from the stage” The king acknowledges his son’s rage and sadness for the Earth.
“And you can’t stop now, rung by rung, almost out Covered in black and gold No one cares and no one knows”
The king beckons his son to leave the Earth and climb the ladder to the heavens where he can join his parents in safety. The earth is “covered in black and gold” which is to say it is awash in evil (“black”) primarily because of greed for riches (“gold”). None of the humans care nor are aware of their impending doom.
“My gift to the world outside, it’s ok, I’m alright Now open your empty hands ‘cause here comes the fun Here comes the end”
The king’s gift to the world is to leave them in ignorance of their impending doom. He plays it off as though the ending of his former domain doesn’t bother him, and even goes so far to say it will be fun watching the Earth destroy itself. While the humans may deserve their fate, we know that the ending of the Earth must truly disturb the king, since he came from the Earth (see "Royal") and it is the only place in which he can physically interact with his queen.
“Click erase the device Give thanks, then clear out the room”
The “device” reminds us of the sex tapes the king and queen made on Earth in “Butcher.” These sex tapes are described in the song "Sex Tape." Erasing the device and clearing the room refers to the end of the Earth.
“Blow kisses, wave them goodbye…Goodnight”
The sinister groove of this song reflects the Earthly evil within the Prince.
mindblowing
you're delusional.