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.
Money is the anthem, of success, so before we go out
What's your address?
I'm your national anthem, God, you're so handsome
Take me to the Hamptons, Bugatti Veyron
He loves to romance 'em, reckless abandon
Holdin' me for ransom, upper echelon
He says to be cool but, I don't know how yet
Wind in my hair, hand on the back of my neck
I said, "Can we party later on?" He said, "Yes" (yes, yes)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me say, "Wow," now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's in the sky, summer's in the air
And baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
Money is the reason we exist
Everybody knows it, it's a fact, kiss, kiss
I sing the national anthem
While I'm standing over your body, hold you like a python
And you can't keep your hands off me, or your pants on
See what you've done to me, King of Chevron?
He said to be cool but, I'm already coolest
I said to get real, don't you know who you're dealing with?
Um, do you think you'll buy me lots of diamonds?
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me say, "Wow," now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's in the sky, summer's in the air
And baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
It's a love story for the new age
For the six-page, we're on a quick, sick rampage
Winin' and dinin', drinkin' and drivin', excessive buyin'
Overdose and dyin' on our drugs and our love
And our dreams and our rage
Blurrin' the lines between real and the fake
Dark and lonely, I need somebody to hold me
He will do very well, I can tell, I can tell
Keep me safe in his Bell Tower Hotel
Money is the anthem of success
So put on mascara and your party dress
I'm your national anthem, boy put your hands up
Give me a standing ovation
Boy, you have landed, babe, in the land of
Sweetness and danger, queen of Saigon
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me say, "Wow," now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's in the sky, summer's in the air
And baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
What's your address?
I'm your national anthem, God, you're so handsome
Take me to the Hamptons, Bugatti Veyron
He loves to romance 'em, reckless abandon
Holdin' me for ransom, upper echelon
He says to be cool but, I don't know how yet
Wind in my hair, hand on the back of my neck
I said, "Can we party later on?" He said, "Yes" (yes, yes)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me say, "Wow," now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's in the sky, summer's in the air
And baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
Money is the reason we exist
Everybody knows it, it's a fact, kiss, kiss
I sing the national anthem
While I'm standing over your body, hold you like a python
And you can't keep your hands off me, or your pants on
See what you've done to me, King of Chevron?
He said to be cool but, I'm already coolest
I said to get real, don't you know who you're dealing with?
Um, do you think you'll buy me lots of diamonds?
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me say, "Wow," now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's in the sky, summer's in the air
And baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
It's a love story for the new age
For the six-page, we're on a quick, sick rampage
Winin' and dinin', drinkin' and drivin', excessive buyin'
Overdose and dyin' on our drugs and our love
And our dreams and our rage
Blurrin' the lines between real and the fake
Dark and lonely, I need somebody to hold me
He will do very well, I can tell, I can tell
Keep me safe in his Bell Tower Hotel
Money is the anthem of success
So put on mascara and your party dress
I'm your national anthem, boy put your hands up
Give me a standing ovation
Boy, you have landed, babe, in the land of
Sweetness and danger, queen of Saigon
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Ooh yeah, baby, bow down, makin' me say, "Wow," now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's in the sky, summer's in the air
And baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
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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.
Holiday
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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.
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."
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,
This song is so powerful. And to me, it has a huge message that the video definitely embodied.
This is my take on the story the song tells:
She starts off having stars in her eyes for this rich and famous big shot guy who is taking here to parties and introducing her to this crazy luxurious lifestyle. He tells her to "be cool" and she's nervous because she's never been in this niche.
In the next verse, she gives an amazing metaphor for having sex. But this time, she says "i'm already the coolest" when he tells her to "be cool". she has figured out the lifestyle now and she has become a part of that world. now she isn't just asking to go to parties, she wants him to buy diamonds.
In the end of the song she has blended completely into this crazy lifestyle of guys, money, drugs, alcohol, fame, etc. She is no longer that naive girl that was first introduced at the beginning of the song. She has lost to herself to the fake world of "fame". She is the "queen of Saigon" or.. the queen of the fallen.
Lana tells this story and then towards the end talks about it being a "love story of the new age". Like, this is what the world has come to... People are obsessed with pop culture and these "celebrities" and "socialites". This crazed world of the famous is glamorized and the people in the spotlight often forget what's real and in the end all they have done is ruined their own lives, just as the girl in the story did.
Money HAS become the anthem of success. They are considered one in the same in modern times.
wonderful interpretation
Damn I think I just teard, cause I can relate watching the video now...
Love this, spot on
@kaylawardle Mate. Nailed it. Great analysis.
@kaylawardle clipping to my blog
@kaylawardle clipping to my blog