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.
Well, I didn't know it would come to this but
That's what happens when you're on your own
And you're alright with letting nice things go
Well, I pawned the earrings that you gave me
Gold and made of flowers dangling
And I almost cried as I sold them off
And I don't mind living on bread and oranges, no, no
But I got to get to and from where I come
And it's gonna take money to go
Oh, no
Oh-oh, oh-ohh, oh-ohh
Oh-ohh
In the name of higher consciousness
I let the best man I knew go
Cause it's nice to love and be loved
But it's better to know all you can know
I said it's nice to love and be loved
But I'd rather know what God knows
Oh, no
Oh, no, oh, no, oh, no
Oh, no
I can't do this once more
No man can keep me together
Been broken since I was born
Well, I didn't know it would come to this but
That's what happens when you're on your own
And you're alright with letting nice things go
That's what happens when you're on your own
And you're alright with letting nice things go
Well, I pawned the earrings that you gave me
Gold and made of flowers dangling
And I almost cried as I sold them off
And I don't mind living on bread and oranges, no, no
But I got to get to and from where I come
And it's gonna take money to go
Oh, no
Oh-oh, oh-ohh, oh-ohh
Oh-ohh
In the name of higher consciousness
I let the best man I knew go
Cause it's nice to love and be loved
But it's better to know all you can know
I said it's nice to love and be loved
But I'd rather know what God knows
Oh, no
Oh, no, oh, no, oh, no
Oh, no
I can't do this once more
No man can keep me together
Been broken since I was born
Well, I didn't know it would come to this but
That's what happens when you're on your own
And you're alright with letting nice things go
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Light Up The Sky
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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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.
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."
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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 don't know why everyone always thinks songs are about drugs. Here's a short story I wrote while listening to Pawn Shop Blues. This is what I was feeling related to the song:
Melanie sat at the window and watched Lake Michigan crash against the rocky shoreline like it was sobbing with her. She let out an exhausted sigh and twirled her strawberry blonde hair in her fingers. The chorus of pots and pans colliding and the unfamiliar bridge of adjusted furniture was a song she had never heard before. He was leaving and collecting everything he ever touched. Melanie gripped the backs of her gold earrings, praying he'd forget them. He had been in and out all day; loading up his truck, leaving a trail of dirt from spider plants and safety pins that had once held everything together. They hadn't spoken since last night's dinner when he said he couldn't keep up anymore. Melanie desperately wished he would've found someone else; that someone else would be the reason for his depart. When the song was coming to a close and she could feel him behind her, hugging his last box, she wiped the tears. She didn't turn around. "I can't do this once more," he spoke. "No man can keep you together. You've been broken since you were born." With that, he was gone, taking everything but a half a loaf of bread and a few oranges. The final concerto of the heavy front door slamming left her lonely. She removed the earrings from her lobes and held them in her palm. She'd pawn them to buy a couch or coffee table or coasters to put on said coffee table; something to make it feel like home again. She never thought it'd come to this, but that's what happens when you're on your own.