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.
And now I know, I know the truth
It's just a matter of inspiration
And it all was just a combination
Of the drugs that I did tonight
It's safe to say that I'm in your head
It's safe to say that I'm doing a good job
Pretty sure that you won't forget
It's safe to say I'm becoming an outlaw
I wrote a poem just to give to you
But it all turns to fake words and sounds
It's safe to say that I'm in your head
And that's the reason you've been
Feeling your temples pound and now I know
Now I know what I'm up against I'll forget in the morning
Like some dream world story that
I wish that I wrote down
I wish you could teleport and be in my bedroom
That would make me feel just like new
That would make it go away
I made a plan, devised the scheme
It's just a matter of preparation
And you know it's just a combination
Of the things that I felt tonight
I wrote a poem just to give to you
But it all turns to fake words and sounds
I wonder if you'll remember me when I fuck this up
And you're not around and now I know
Now I know what I'm up against I'll forget in the morning
Like some dream world story that
I wish that I wrote down
I wish you could teleport and be in my bedroom
That would make me feel just like new
That would make it go away
Three thousand miles till I'm sleeping in your bed
You're not next door, you're not down the street
You're three thousand miles so teleport to me
I never thought that I would put you through this
Teleport to me you're in pieces, how did I do this?
Now I know what I'm up against I'll forget in the morning
Like some dream world story, that I wish that I wrote down
I wish you could teleport and be in my bedroom
That would make me feel just like new
That would make it go away now I know what I'm up against
I wrote a poem just to give to you
That I wish that I wrote down
It's just a matter of inspiration
And it all was just a combination
Of the drugs that I did tonight
It's safe to say that I'm in your head
It's safe to say that I'm doing a good job
Pretty sure that you won't forget
It's safe to say I'm becoming an outlaw
I wrote a poem just to give to you
But it all turns to fake words and sounds
It's safe to say that I'm in your head
And that's the reason you've been
Feeling your temples pound and now I know
Now I know what I'm up against I'll forget in the morning
Like some dream world story that
I wish that I wrote down
I wish you could teleport and be in my bedroom
That would make me feel just like new
That would make it go away
I made a plan, devised the scheme
It's just a matter of preparation
And you know it's just a combination
Of the things that I felt tonight
I wrote a poem just to give to you
But it all turns to fake words and sounds
I wonder if you'll remember me when I fuck this up
And you're not around and now I know
Now I know what I'm up against I'll forget in the morning
Like some dream world story that
I wish that I wrote down
I wish you could teleport and be in my bedroom
That would make me feel just like new
That would make it go away
Three thousand miles till I'm sleeping in your bed
You're not next door, you're not down the street
You're three thousand miles so teleport to me
I never thought that I would put you through this
Teleport to me you're in pieces, how did I do this?
Now I know what I'm up against I'll forget in the morning
Like some dream world story, that I wish that I wrote down
I wish you could teleport and be in my bedroom
That would make me feel just like new
That would make it go away now I know what I'm up against
I wrote a poem just to give to you
That I wish that I wrote down
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"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.
Dreamwalker
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Silent Planet
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
I believe this song is about a guy who is either in a long distance relationship or the girl he likes lives far away from him, and he tries to devise some plans to meet her, but because of the distance he is afraid things won't be able to work. So he just wishes that both him and her were able to teleport to each other so that way the distance won't strain their relationship.