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.
Waiting for the stars to align
There is a restless raincloud in my mind
Heavy eyes fixed in the middle of the room
And you're looking for a point to all that you do
I feel guilty being alive
When so many beautiful people have died
I never thought that we wouldn't rule the world
I always think we will I keep my fist clenched still
Oh, I'm coming
Oh, I'm coming
When you see me you should run and hide
Oh, I'm coming
Oh, oh, I'm coming
It's important that evil people look good on the outside
I know the stars will align
If not tonight then some other time
Sleeping off the shade in the back of a car
I tried to get away but the car wouldn't start
I may never get it right
My chemicals may balance in some other life
I never thought that we wouldn't rule the world
I always think we will I keep my teeth gnashed still
Oh, I'm coming
Oh, I'm coming
When you see me you should run and hide
Oh, I'm coming
Oh, oh, I'm coming
It's important that evil people look good on the outside
You look so good on the outside
You look so good on the outside
You look so good on the outside
I feel so good on the outside
You look so good on the outside
I feel so good on the outside
You look so good on the outside
I feel so good on the outside
There is a restless raincloud in my mind
Heavy eyes fixed in the middle of the room
And you're looking for a point to all that you do
I feel guilty being alive
When so many beautiful people have died
I never thought that we wouldn't rule the world
I always think we will I keep my fist clenched still
Oh, I'm coming
Oh, I'm coming
When you see me you should run and hide
Oh, I'm coming
Oh, oh, I'm coming
It's important that evil people look good on the outside
I know the stars will align
If not tonight then some other time
Sleeping off the shade in the back of a car
I tried to get away but the car wouldn't start
I may never get it right
My chemicals may balance in some other life
I never thought that we wouldn't rule the world
I always think we will I keep my teeth gnashed still
Oh, I'm coming
Oh, I'm coming
When you see me you should run and hide
Oh, I'm coming
Oh, oh, I'm coming
It's important that evil people look good on the outside
You look so good on the outside
You look so good on the outside
You look so good on the outside
I feel so good on the outside
You look so good on the outside
I feel so good on the outside
You look so good on the outside
I feel so good on the outside
Lyrics submitted by Adriennaline, edited by shepastaway
Confetti Lyrics as written by Wesley Eisold
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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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.
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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,
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
I think 'if you're looking to a point for all that you do' is 'and you're looking for the point to all that you do'.
And 'I keep a fist clenched still' is 'I keep my fist clenched still'.
And I want to say 'it's an ordinary ...???... on the outside' is 'it's the ordinary people who look good on the outside' but I'm not sure. (I love this song to fairly unnatural levels, thank you for posting this!)