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.
There's a mad man looking at you
And he wants to take your soul
There's a mad man with a mad plan
And he's dancing at your door, oh
What to do
Ooo, what to do
When the walls are built to crumble
There's a mad man with a mad plan
And he waits for us to stumble
Ooo, but our eyes are open
Yeah, they're really open
5, 4, 3, 2, 1
I say we
Rob from the rich
And blow down the door
Onto the next
To dance with the poor
Jump on my shoulders
You can jump on my shoulders
We rob from the rich
And blow down the door
Onto the next
To dance with the poor
Jump on my shoulders
You can jump on my shoulders
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
Everybody, it's ok
If you're mad at what I'm sayin'
Make peace,
Baby, shake my hand
'Cause I'm pretty sure I'm stayin'
What to do, ooo
Look at you,
When the walls begin to crumble
It's a mad man with a mad plan
And he waits for us to stumble, ooo
Ooo, but our eyes are open
Yeah, they're really open
5, 4, 3, 2, 1
I say we
Rob from the rich
And blow down the door
Onto the next
To dance with the poor
Jump on my shoulders
You can jump on my shoulders
We rob from the rich
And blow down the door
Onto the next
To dance with the poor
Jump on my shoulders
You can jump on my shoulders
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
I'll say the devil's lost control
Live in the water
I'm scared of the city
I'll stay in the water
I'm scared of the city
Live in the water
I'm scared of the city
Yeah
I'm scared of the city
Live in the water
I'm scared of the city
I'll pray for you
I say we
Rob from the rich
And blow down the door
Onto the next
To dance with the poor
Jump on my shoulders
You can jump on my shoulders
We rob from the rich
And blow down the door
Onto the next
To dance with the poor
Jump on my shoulders
You can jump on my shoulders
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
Seriously
Jump on my shoulders
It's not supposed to be easy
That's why it feels so fuckin' good
Jump on my shoulders, yeah
And he wants to take your soul
There's a mad man with a mad plan
And he's dancing at your door, oh
What to do
Ooo, what to do
When the walls are built to crumble
There's a mad man with a mad plan
And he waits for us to stumble
Ooo, but our eyes are open
Yeah, they're really open
5, 4, 3, 2, 1
I say we
Rob from the rich
And blow down the door
Onto the next
To dance with the poor
Jump on my shoulders
You can jump on my shoulders
We rob from the rich
And blow down the door
Onto the next
To dance with the poor
Jump on my shoulders
You can jump on my shoulders
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
Everybody, it's ok
If you're mad at what I'm sayin'
Make peace,
Baby, shake my hand
'Cause I'm pretty sure I'm stayin'
What to do, ooo
Look at you,
When the walls begin to crumble
It's a mad man with a mad plan
And he waits for us to stumble, ooo
Ooo, but our eyes are open
Yeah, they're really open
5, 4, 3, 2, 1
I say we
Rob from the rich
And blow down the door
Onto the next
To dance with the poor
Jump on my shoulders
You can jump on my shoulders
We rob from the rich
And blow down the door
Onto the next
To dance with the poor
Jump on my shoulders
You can jump on my shoulders
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
I'll say the devil's lost control
Live in the water
I'm scared of the city
I'll stay in the water
I'm scared of the city
Live in the water
I'm scared of the city
Yeah
I'm scared of the city
Live in the water
I'm scared of the city
I'll pray for you
I say we
Rob from the rich
And blow down the door
Onto the next
To dance with the poor
Jump on my shoulders
You can jump on my shoulders
We rob from the rich
And blow down the door
Onto the next
To dance with the poor
Jump on my shoulders
You can jump on my shoulders
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
Seriously
Jump on my shoulders
It's not supposed to be easy
That's why it feels so fuckin' good
Jump on my shoulders, yeah
Lyrics submitted by LPodyssey07
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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,
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
"There's a mad man looking at you And he wants to take your soul."
---The MADMAN is SATAN who is always trying to literally take your SOUL.
"There's a mad man with a mad plan And he's dancing at your door."
---SATAN is always dancing at our door as God gave him dominion ove the earth until Christ comes again.
(forwhatsaiththescriptures.wordpress.com/2014/10/22/satan-domain-over-earth/)
"What to do, oh What to do When the walls are built to crumble."
--- MAN is born into ORIGINIAL SIN, meaning we are born sinful and built to crumble from the beginning or birth.
"There's a mad man with a mad plan And he waits for us to stumble."
---SATAN always is looking for us to stumble thru SIN allowing him to come in & destroy, corrupt & take your SOUL.
"Oh, but our eyes are open Yeah, they're really open"
Aaron is stating that HE or CHRISTIANS will not be fooled by the great deceiver (SATAN=MADMAN) As once you accept CHRIST in your life you know the TRUTH.
"I say we rob from the rich And blow down the door. On to the next To dance with the poor."
---The RICH Aaron is referring to is the Cleansing of the Temple by CHRIST.(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleansing_of_the_Temple)
---DANCE with POOR refers to how CHRIST came for the poor to preach the good news (Luke 7:22 New International Version So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are
cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.)
"Jump on my shoulders. You can jump on my shoulders."
---This reference is from the Poem - Footprints in the Sand:
The Lord replied,
‘The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you.’
poetseers.org/the-great-poets/misc-2/footprints-in-the-sand/
"Everybody it's OK if You're mad at what I'm saying. Make peace, baby shake my hand 'cause I'm pretty sure I'm staying."
--- Aaron is stating his FAITH IN CHRIST sustains him and he will live eternal life (staying)
"I'll say the devils lost control"
--- Accepting Christ is the first human act of the DEVIL LOSING CONTROL of your life! (tscpulpitseries.org/english/1990s/ts991227.html)
"Live in the water I'm scared of the city Stay in the water I'm scared of the city Live in the water I'm scared of the city."
---LIVE IN THE WATER is referring to John 4:14 New International Version but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
---IM SCARED OF THE CITY could possibly reference the ESSENES a sect of Jews that lived in the desert, not seeking desires of the city. The Dead Sea Scrolls are a testament and the oldest word of God attributed to the Essenes. (fsmitha.com/h1/ch19.htm)
---STAY IN THE WATER obviously refers to stay in CHRIST, and be a model image of him,(i.e. Christian)
"It's not supposed to be easy That's why it feels so fucking good."
---God states that being a CHRISTIAN will not be easy and Satan will constantly try to deceive and destroy us. But if we do it FEELS F'ING GOOD!!! (It's taken me 40+yrs to realize this FACT)
Aaron Bruno is a lyrical GENIUS! I am constantly amazed how this ALT artist never claims to be an outright CHRISTIAN. But if you follow what he is truly saying, ALL of his SONGs are CHRISTIAN in nature IMHO.
Godspeed AB & AWOLNATION!
@lewis72tx YES!!! Thank God someone else is hearing the gospel in Aaron's lyrics (almost all of his songs)! Once you hear it, it's so obvious! It's stunningly beautiful. Love it - thank you Aaron! God bless you <3
I think it's about how money makes people crazy, but what matters is enjoying life and love. The mad man reminds me of rich people I've worked for in soulless jobs that eventually crumble because they mean nothing. The mad man's waiting for someone to stumble to tear them down (or fire them) so he can feel control, but he's ultimately miserable. When money doesn't matter, you can open your eyes to what's really important like life and love, friends and fun.
Working for rich people is kind of like robbing them. The chorus reminds me of going to a concert or club. Even though we don't make a lot of money, my husband and I always find a way to go to concerts and have fun with our friends. "Jump on my Shoulders" makes me think of going to a concert and, as a girl it's sometimes hard to see. I actually think it's pretty romantic because he seems to be saying 'I'll hold you up and we can just dance and have fun.'
I think "The devil's lost control" refers to not letting money rule our lives. "Live in the water/I'm scared of the city" reminds me it's important to return to nature, since I actually do live in a city and it gets overwhelming. The last lyric is the most meaningful, I think because it's so easy to relate to. It's like life's hard for all of us, but whatever you're looking for - it's worth it in the end if you don't give up. Just my interpretation. It's an amazing song.
I feel like it's about the eventual end of capitalism or at least this form of capitalism.
We could be wrong, but that's what I think it's about too. I like to think it's about that. The "mad man" could be selfishness. He says people will be mad at what he's saying because the "mad man", or selfishness, will cause people to be angry about his message of selflessness and equality.
i really think my explanation is right so i'm not going to attempt but i love this song.
I think he's talking to a child (either his or someone else's) wants to see something but can't because they're too small to see it on their own. He tells them to jump on his shoulders so they can see something better. I invented a dance to go with this song where I do any dance I feel like and when Aaron says the title of the song I jump.
the meaning of this song is about the zombie apocalypse. We'll rob from the rich, blow down the door (We will take their guns and food) onto the next to dance with the poor (We will fight the zombies with the guns) You can jump on my shoulders (You can trust me, I will take care of you and your soul) Stay in the water, I'm scared of the city (The city is overrun, so they stay in the ocean on a boat to avoid that danger)