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.
Fireworks on the Fourth of July
Aren't as interesting as the ones that I see when I close my eyes
Colors react like water in rubidium
And you're standing there right in the middle of 'em
Signal comes in, sharp as a tack
And the fireworks start fading to black
I open my eyes, but you aren't there
So I turn my attention to the ones in the air
They were nothing but smoke and flashing lights
I'd much rather be looking at the sky at night
Lying on my back and counting the stars
From Orion's Belt to Ursa Major
From the supernovas to all the moon's craters
You ain't here with me, maybe that's where you are
And now, it's sad but true
That every single Tuesday in June
I turn my head and wait for you
To fly across that bright summer moon
But every night, it's the same
I'm so jealous of the clouds and airplanes
That get to be up so close to you
'cause I think they get a better view
Gonna find a way up there, way up high
Wishing I could just take to the sky
But gravitational pull does its best to keep me here
I want to look at the earth from way down below
But I have enough trouble just saying hello
Let alone penetrating the atmosphere
When you and I talk, it's like planetary equinox
But it doesn't matter what I do
I'm gonna need a launch pad to get closer to you
Aren't as interesting as the ones that I see when I close my eyes
Colors react like water in rubidium
And you're standing there right in the middle of 'em
Signal comes in, sharp as a tack
And the fireworks start fading to black
I open my eyes, but you aren't there
So I turn my attention to the ones in the air
They were nothing but smoke and flashing lights
I'd much rather be looking at the sky at night
Lying on my back and counting the stars
From Orion's Belt to Ursa Major
From the supernovas to all the moon's craters
You ain't here with me, maybe that's where you are
And now, it's sad but true
That every single Tuesday in June
I turn my head and wait for you
To fly across that bright summer moon
But every night, it's the same
I'm so jealous of the clouds and airplanes
That get to be up so close to you
'cause I think they get a better view
Gonna find a way up there, way up high
Wishing I could just take to the sky
But gravitational pull does its best to keep me here
I want to look at the earth from way down below
But I have enough trouble just saying hello
Let alone penetrating the atmosphere
When you and I talk, it's like planetary equinox
But it doesn't matter what I do
I'm gonna need a launch pad to get closer to you
Lyrics submitted by Enterim
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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.”
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