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.
At ten in the morning
I was laughing at something
At the airport terminal
At nine in the evening
I was sitting crying to you over the phone
Well passing the border from a state to another
Filled with people whom I couldn't help to relate to
And we stopped a while at a roadside restaurant
Where the waitress was sitting outside smoking in her car
She had that look of total fear in her eyes
And as we drove away from there she looked at me and
She smiled
I keep running around
Trying to find the ground
But my head is in the stars
And my feet are in the sky
Well I'm nobody's baby
I'm everybody's girl
I'm the queen of nothing
I'm the king of the world
And once you asked me well what's my biggest fear
That things would always remain so unclear
That one day I'd wake up all alone
With a big family and emptiness deep in my bones
That I would be so blinded, turn a deaf ear
And that my fake laugh would suddenly sound sincere
Now I wasn't born for anything
Wasn't born to say anything
Oh I'm just here now and soon I'll be gone
I'm nobody's baby
I'm everybody's girl
I'm the queen of nothing
I'm the king of the world
Now everyday there's a short intermission
While I sleep they start dimming the lights
But I've seen everything I ever want to see
Screaming "Fire!" in a theater people taking their seats
Watch it all go down like a stone in a stream
If you fall for your reflection you will drown in a dream
Tell me something real
Tell me something true
I just want to feel there's something left that I can do
But I'm nobody's baby
I'm everybody's girl
I'm the queen of nothing
I'm the king of the world
I was laughing at something
At the airport terminal
At nine in the evening
I was sitting crying to you over the phone
Well passing the border from a state to another
Filled with people whom I couldn't help to relate to
And we stopped a while at a roadside restaurant
Where the waitress was sitting outside smoking in her car
She had that look of total fear in her eyes
And as we drove away from there she looked at me and
She smiled
I keep running around
Trying to find the ground
But my head is in the stars
And my feet are in the sky
Well I'm nobody's baby
I'm everybody's girl
I'm the queen of nothing
I'm the king of the world
And once you asked me well what's my biggest fear
That things would always remain so unclear
That one day I'd wake up all alone
With a big family and emptiness deep in my bones
That I would be so blinded, turn a deaf ear
And that my fake laugh would suddenly sound sincere
Now I wasn't born for anything
Wasn't born to say anything
Oh I'm just here now and soon I'll be gone
I'm nobody's baby
I'm everybody's girl
I'm the queen of nothing
I'm the king of the world
Now everyday there's a short intermission
While I sleep they start dimming the lights
But I've seen everything I ever want to see
Screaming "Fire!" in a theater people taking their seats
Watch it all go down like a stone in a stream
If you fall for your reflection you will drown in a dream
Tell me something real
Tell me something true
I just want to feel there's something left that I can do
But I'm nobody's baby
I'm everybody's girl
I'm the queen of nothing
I'm the king of the world
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
The narrator is establishing that she won't be bound by the traditional idea that women HAVE to be dependent on men.
Hence the lyrics "I'm nobody's baby/I'm everybody's girl" She doesn't belong to anyone and she intends to traverse the world as her own person.
When asked her greatest fear she says,
"That things would always remain so unclear That one day I'd wake up all alone With a big family and emptiness deep in my bones That I would be so blinded, turn a deaf ear And that my fake laugh would suddenly sound sincere"
This certainly could apply to the aforementioned analysis that she's escaping the womanly role; she's afraid she'll one day settle down, have a family, and feel unfulfilled. I suppose her fake laughter would sound sincere because she'd begrudgingly accept it eventually. But this definitely isn't only applicable women; the idea of settling down (or having anything forced upon you that you don't want) and not feeling happy and fulfilled can be a scary notion for anyone, which is why I like the universality of this song so much.
She further adds on to the theme of being free of any expectations with:
"Now I wasn't born for anything Wasn't born to say anything Oh I'm just here now and soon I'll be gone"
and the longing for self-discovery and purpose with,
"Tell me something real Tell me something true I just want to feel there's something left that I can do"
She creates and discovers her own meaning in her world. She's the queen of nothing because she won't be held down by what is generally expected of a woman; she's king of the world!
Just a really great song. Conor's addition is lovely, too.
@wordsaslight One of their very best both musically and lyrically. Lovely analysis, thank you for sharing!
That's my boy Conna!!
The song its self is almost a laugh that sounds sincere. The tune is so happy you almost have to smile along to it even tho the lyrics themselves are so heartbreaking.