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.
A-one, two, a-one, two
A-one, two, a-one, two
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
I was born in the Boogie Down catscan
Where my building fell down on the rats and
People sorta super wanna trip to the penile (penile)
While I settle off the shores of the Long Isle
My file is clean, I mean my mind is clear when I transmit
I am the man-a of the family 'cause the pants fit
I want to let forensics prove, that I can mends groove
With the thread from needle outta hay, wanna say
Salutations to the nation of the Nubians
We 'bout to place you in that three feet of stew again
I got the frequency to shatter Mrs. Jones' perm
I gotta "Hey, love" all the honies 'cause they're short term
Tallyin' the score I'm for the shottie in the jacket
For the brother, he's a nigga when he packs it
So get your butt out the sling, I stung Muhammad float a note
That means I'm def, so like the autographs you sign until the break
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Ayo, groove with the mayor, hazard on the sayer
Wave the eighteen mill', even still
Sack or bag of troubles, make the single double
Loop the coin and join the minimum wage
I had a plan if I was the man, I'd throw the J
Lay it low and late night I get 'sessed
Uncondition my ways, of the everyday sunset
Wagin' my days to the one bet
'Cause your breaks'll have the carrot of cakes, whether mine
Out of line, I breeze into the early mornin'
Freak the WIC call and get a tap on my shoulder
'Cause the days of the breaks be just about over
The arts of the six won't play my bag of tricks
I got the sevens in my pocket somewhere
Reasons for the Cheer All Temperature here
I keep it to the rear, and then I'm exploding
I be the fab I be the fabulous but see unlike the Chi
I got the flea up in the name (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Can't no one bend my cousin from the Peter Piper like the others
Latchin' on to when I caught the fame (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Pass the task to ask me bout the Native Tongue again my friend
I tell you Jungle Brothers "On the Run" (a-one, two, a-one, two)
I'm shakin' hands with many devils in the industry
Believe the Genesis like Phil with stills mean that I'm def (a-one, two, a-one, two)
So like the autographs you sign until the break
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
We in the mornin' at the end, but in the end I be the is (a-one, two, a-one, two)
'Cause in the mix, man, it's alright
Momma got the rhythm to my daylife (a-one, two, a-one, two)
My pops gots enough so best to leave or sail the waves
To the Long I laid the anchor in the 'Ville
And how I relate, the same side of my gates (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Paper days, mess up my mind, ground zero degrees (a-one, two, a-one, two)
And the weather feels fine
You opened my eyes, man, thought I had her man (a-one, two, a-one, two)
But how could I eyescan, I wasn't around
I seen the states and played the dates in the far-far
Gathered the new, from the zoas around (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Grew old with Mikey Rodes and played the codes
Sometimes I don't budge, without my cous' Fuzz (a-one, two, a-one, two)
A simple, "How ya do?" A check in from my friends and my crew
Makes it definitely special (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Now there's no Shiny Happy People in the crew we play the rough
I got the huff, and puff, to blow the house low
You know the never-ending factor while I'm over, tell a squid
I know an Enterprising brother, so report to the bridge
I bounce a ball with my left, a squid with my right
('Cause a squid is just a punk) Yo, he deserved to lose the fight
I might meander 'cross your dream, travellin' up the stream (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Plug wonder, wonder why you're lonely tonight
We see the girls scream as if we're shocked by the live shell
Let's round 'em up and get 'em back to the hotel (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Motel, holiday, inn-fact! (A-one, two, a-one, two)
I'm gonna let you know, once again, that De La Soul
Is sure to show you we will hit the charter harder
Than the normal rappin' fool (a-one, two, a-one, two)
A-one, two, a-one, two
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
I was born in the Boogie Down catscan
Where my building fell down on the rats and
People sorta super wanna trip to the penile (penile)
While I settle off the shores of the Long Isle
My file is clean, I mean my mind is clear when I transmit
I am the man-a of the family 'cause the pants fit
I want to let forensics prove, that I can mends groove
With the thread from needle outta hay, wanna say
Salutations to the nation of the Nubians
We 'bout to place you in that three feet of stew again
I got the frequency to shatter Mrs. Jones' perm
I gotta "Hey, love" all the honies 'cause they're short term
Tallyin' the score I'm for the shottie in the jacket
For the brother, he's a nigga when he packs it
So get your butt out the sling, I stung Muhammad float a note
That means I'm def, so like the autographs you sign until the break
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Ayo, groove with the mayor, hazard on the sayer
Wave the eighteen mill', even still
Sack or bag of troubles, make the single double
Loop the coin and join the minimum wage
I had a plan if I was the man, I'd throw the J
Lay it low and late night I get 'sessed
Uncondition my ways, of the everyday sunset
Wagin' my days to the one bet
'Cause your breaks'll have the carrot of cakes, whether mine
Out of line, I breeze into the early mornin'
Freak the WIC call and get a tap on my shoulder
'Cause the days of the breaks be just about over
The arts of the six won't play my bag of tricks
I got the sevens in my pocket somewhere
Reasons for the Cheer All Temperature here
I keep it to the rear, and then I'm exploding
I be the fab I be the fabulous but see unlike the Chi
I got the flea up in the name (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Can't no one bend my cousin from the Peter Piper like the others
Latchin' on to when I caught the fame (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Pass the task to ask me bout the Native Tongue again my friend
I tell you Jungle Brothers "On the Run" (a-one, two, a-one, two)
I'm shakin' hands with many devils in the industry
Believe the Genesis like Phil with stills mean that I'm def (a-one, two, a-one, two)
So like the autographs you sign until the break
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
We in the mornin' at the end, but in the end I be the is (a-one, two, a-one, two)
'Cause in the mix, man, it's alright
Momma got the rhythm to my daylife (a-one, two, a-one, two)
My pops gots enough so best to leave or sail the waves
To the Long I laid the anchor in the 'Ville
And how I relate, the same side of my gates (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Paper days, mess up my mind, ground zero degrees (a-one, two, a-one, two)
And the weather feels fine
You opened my eyes, man, thought I had her man (a-one, two, a-one, two)
But how could I eyescan, I wasn't around
I seen the states and played the dates in the far-far
Gathered the new, from the zoas around (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Grew old with Mikey Rodes and played the codes
Sometimes I don't budge, without my cous' Fuzz (a-one, two, a-one, two)
A simple, "How ya do?" A check in from my friends and my crew
Makes it definitely special (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Now there's no Shiny Happy People in the crew we play the rough
I got the huff, and puff, to blow the house low
You know the never-ending factor while I'm over, tell a squid
I know an Enterprising brother, so report to the bridge
I bounce a ball with my left, a squid with my right
('Cause a squid is just a punk) Yo, he deserved to lose the fight
I might meander 'cross your dream, travellin' up the stream (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Plug wonder, wonder why you're lonely tonight
We see the girls scream as if we're shocked by the live shell
Let's round 'em up and get 'em back to the hotel (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Motel, holiday, inn-fact! (A-one, two, a-one, two)
I'm gonna let you know, once again, that De La Soul
Is sure to show you we will hit the charter harder
Than the normal rappin' fool (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Breakadawn Lyrics as written by Susaye Greene Paul E. Huston
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Exploration Group LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.