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.
The kiss that never happened
The call that never came
The hurt you mask by laughing
The one that got away
It’s all in a day of emotional traffic
Stranded, broken and tragic
Finding out your only human is hard
I want to change the world
But I don’t know where to start
And I am bold enough to believe
There is hope among the ruins
Finding out your only human
I tried to touch the sky
But fell right to the ground
Did my best to fly
But I just kept falling down
So many hopes and dreams shattered
Expectations broken and battered
Finding out your only human is hard
I want to change the world
But I don’t know where to start
And I am bold enough to believe
There is hope among the ruins
Finding out your only human
Oh human enough to forgive
Oh human enough to embrace
Oh there is hope
I am bold enough to believe
There’s hope among the ruins
Finding out your only human is hard
I want to change the world
But I don’t know where to start
And I am bold enough to believe
There is hope among the ruins
Finding out your only human
The call that never came
The hurt you mask by laughing
The one that got away
It’s all in a day of emotional traffic
Stranded, broken and tragic
Finding out your only human is hard
I want to change the world
But I don’t know where to start
And I am bold enough to believe
There is hope among the ruins
Finding out your only human
I tried to touch the sky
But fell right to the ground
Did my best to fly
But I just kept falling down
So many hopes and dreams shattered
Expectations broken and battered
Finding out your only human is hard
I want to change the world
But I don’t know where to start
And I am bold enough to believe
There is hope among the ruins
Finding out your only human
Oh human enough to forgive
Oh human enough to embrace
Oh there is hope
I am bold enough to believe
There’s hope among the ruins
Finding out your only human is hard
I want to change the world
But I don’t know where to start
And I am bold enough to believe
There is hope among the ruins
Finding out your only human
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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Ebba Grön
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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,
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Ed Sheeran
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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.