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.
So kind of you to come round and testify
With your softly spoken alibi
You're so convinced that you're saving yourself
You should save it for somebody else
Save it for somebody else, mmh
Hood up, head down and just walk away
I already know what it is that you're gonna say
You know the truth is a much harder sell
Might as well save it for somebody else
Save it for somebody else
Save it for somebody else
Save it
Hood up, head down
Hood up, head down
Hood up, head down
With your softly spoken alibi
You're so convinced that you're saving yourself
You should save it for somebody else
Save it for somebody else, mmh
Hood up, head down and just walk away
I already know what it is that you're gonna say
You know the truth is a much harder sell
Might as well save it for somebody else
Save it for somebody else
Save it for somebody else
Save it
Hood up, head down
Hood up, head down
Hood up, head down
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Light Up The Sky
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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.
Mountain Song
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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."
When We Were Young
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Magical
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How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
He is speaking to his lover who happens to have many different lovers.
"So kind of you to come round and testify With your softly spoken alibi You're so convinced that you're saving yourself You should save it for somebody else Save it for somebody else, mmh"
++ This is the intimate moment where the deceiving lover comes to reassure him of no wrong-doing. The lover is saving herself(/hisself) because is some way there is a need for this person to love her, to satisfy any vanities or insecurities. He has figured it out and finished with the whole mess, thats why he advises his lover to go to one of her other fools.
"Hood up, head down Hood up, head down Hood up, head down"
++ He emphasizes this moment, described by imagery, because this is a very emotional moment. The deceiving lover, pained with guilt, wants to disappear. at least for a while.