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.
Da poetry
By now you should know it's me
The brother of word
Giving thanks and praises
To so many names and faces
In different places
From '84 to '99
It's been a very long time
Since the movement called hip-hop arrived
To this cold country of mine
Seen the old, the new
And now the true school
And for once I can say
Something has changed
Or is it just me
In the place to be (hardcore)
Am I about to take it in my face
Question, where were you at at the time of the fat shoelaces
When the hell was really raised, huh
I know every face
Writers, breakers, DJ's, MC's, Fly girls
Representing, respecting, unwritten laws
Rules, star wars
But even though
There's one thing I know
And it's been said before
Eliminate the distance
It's not where you're from, it's where you at
Mentally
The poetry
Enough love, peace and respect
Come correct
You gotta pay your dues
If you've got something to prove
It is a competition
Cause the business side can't see the mission
a-k-a the be -boy vision
Two thousand and still counting
Yo it S-you-see-K-S
And I gotta run but come for the Bomfunk crew
So you'd better listen if you don't want to be missing
The perfect combination on a mission to rock the dancefloor
To hit you right where it hurts, I'll leave you begging for more
Like Roger, but this is not a story of a rabbit
Gismo and be -O-W just got a habit
Of speeding up your heartbeat
Moving you no doubt, so Bomfunk MC's do it to the crowd
What up looking good, catch me cooking food
By now you should know it's me
The brother of word
Giving thanks and praises
To so many names and faces
In different places
From '84 to '99
It's been a very long time
Since the movement called hip-hop arrived
To this cold country of mine
Seen the old, the new
And now the true school
And for once I can say
Something has changed
Or is it just me
In the place to be (hardcore)
Am I about to take it in my face
Question, where were you at at the time of the fat shoelaces
When the hell was really raised, huh
I know every face
Writers, breakers, DJ's, MC's, Fly girls
Representing, respecting, unwritten laws
Rules, star wars
But even though
There's one thing I know
And it's been said before
Eliminate the distance
It's not where you're from, it's where you at
Mentally
The poetry
Enough love, peace and respect
Come correct
You gotta pay your dues
If you've got something to prove
It is a competition
Cause the business side can't see the mission
a-k-a the be -boy vision
Two thousand and still counting
Yo it S-you-see-K-S
And I gotta run but come for the Bomfunk crew
So you'd better listen if you don't want to be missing
The perfect combination on a mission to rock the dancefloor
To hit you right where it hurts, I'll leave you begging for more
Like Roger, but this is not a story of a rabbit
Gismo and be -O-W just got a habit
Of speeding up your heartbeat
Moving you no doubt, so Bomfunk MC's do it to the crowd
What up looking good, catch me cooking food
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Light Up The Sky
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Dreamwalker
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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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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.