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.
Young Paul decides upon a future
And he asks from her a favor
He wants to know if she will tell him
If he's for Hell or he's for Heaven
If he's for Hell he'll show no sorrow
Until he's born again tomorrow
If he's for Heaven there's no reason
To lament the passing season
She says, Don't be a fool, son
There aren't any rules, son
And as she spoke
He lost his faith
He asked her name, she told him Laurie
Proceeded to give him her life story
She was a teacher and a scholar
They built a statue in her honor
Then she became a slave in ancient Athens
She doesn't know quite how it happened
Now she paints faces in the city
Making all those ugly girls look pretty
She says, Look at this town, son
Take a good luck around, son
Why should anyone here be saved?
So he says, Every crooked lane that you can see
Every open home, every hollow tree
Is a home for creatures loved by me
And oh to be counted among them
Among them
Oh to be counted among them
Among them
Oh to be counted among them
And he asks from her a favor
He wants to know if she will tell him
If he's for Hell or he's for Heaven
If he's for Hell he'll show no sorrow
Until he's born again tomorrow
If he's for Heaven there's no reason
To lament the passing season
She says, Don't be a fool, son
There aren't any rules, son
And as she spoke
He lost his faith
He asked her name, she told him Laurie
Proceeded to give him her life story
She was a teacher and a scholar
They built a statue in her honor
Then she became a slave in ancient Athens
She doesn't know quite how it happened
Now she paints faces in the city
Making all those ugly girls look pretty
She says, Look at this town, son
Take a good luck around, son
Why should anyone here be saved?
So he says, Every crooked lane that you can see
Every open home, every hollow tree
Is a home for creatures loved by me
And oh to be counted among them
Among them
Oh to be counted among them
Among them
Oh to be counted among them
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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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"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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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,
After listening to this song continuously for a month now I have finally realized what its about... At first I thought it was about him wanting to be counted among the great artists of the world. However I continued to listen and when i heard "young paul" it clicked its about St,Paul from the bible!! Many of you may know this already but some may not, Paul never met Jesus Christ although he was an apostle. He came to the faith when Jesus died. Thats why theres all the stuff about Heaven and Hell and being Born Again because Paul the baptist was born again christian... Thats what i think, I could be wrong of course but it feels right to me. Paul would have wanted to be counted among the rest of the apostles even though he was late in joining the gang so to speak....