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.
I skimmed across black water
Without once submerging
Onto the banks of an urban morning
That hungers the first light
Much, much more than mountains ever do
And she, like a ghost beside me
Goes down with the ease of a dolphin
And emerges unlearned, unshamed, unharmed
For she is the perfect creature, natural in every feature
And I am the geek with the alchemists' stone
For all of you who must discover
For all who seek to understand
For having left the path of others
You'll find a very special hand
And it is a holy thing
And it is a precious time
And it is the only way
Forget-me-nots among the snow
It's always been, and so it goes
To ponder his death and his life eternally
For all of you who must discover
For all who seek to understand
For having left the path of others
You'll find a very special hand
And it is a holy thing
And it is a precious time
And it is the only way
Forget-me-nots among the snow
It's always been, and so it goes
To ponder his death and his life eternally
One bright blue rose outlives all those
Two thousand years, and still it goes
To ponder his death and his life eternally
Without once submerging
Onto the banks of an urban morning
That hungers the first light
Much, much more than mountains ever do
And she, like a ghost beside me
Goes down with the ease of a dolphin
And emerges unlearned, unshamed, unharmed
For she is the perfect creature, natural in every feature
And I am the geek with the alchemists' stone
For all of you who must discover
For all who seek to understand
For having left the path of others
You'll find a very special hand
And it is a holy thing
And it is a precious time
And it is the only way
Forget-me-nots among the snow
It's always been, and so it goes
To ponder his death and his life eternally
For all of you who must discover
For all who seek to understand
For having left the path of others
You'll find a very special hand
And it is a holy thing
And it is a precious time
And it is the only way
Forget-me-nots among the snow
It's always been, and so it goes
To ponder his death and his life eternally
One bright blue rose outlives all those
Two thousand years, and still it goes
To ponder his death and his life eternally
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Bright Blue Rose Lyrics as written by Jimmy Maccarthy
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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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.
Just A Little Lovin'
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"'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/
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Form an interview with Jimmy McCarthy in the Irish Independent newspaper, Nov. 26, 2000. Many of his songs are saturated with spiritual sentiments which would not be out of place on a gospel album. Take the chorus of The Song of the Singing Horseman: "I want you, I want you/ In my life, my Lord/ I want you in my heart/ And on my word, my Lord/ I'd love you/ I'd love you/ In my life my Lord/ The child within my heart/ And on my word, my law."
Bright Blue Rose is an invocation of spiritual perfection through Christ. It's where the narrator MacCarthy describes himself as "the geek with the alchemist's stone", a strikingly bleak portrait. He sees it as an attitude of humility.
"Well, the geek is one of the lowest forms of humanity. The There's nothing grandiose about being a geek. You are preaching to no one when you put yourself there. So basically I put myself above no one else."
@Dubma And the bright blue rose being the unattainable as blue roses do not exist naturally. So, the perfection of Christ.<br /> And what a beautiful song, I'm amazed to see only one comment!
@Dubma Thank you for your explanation of the blue rose for me. I had figured out the thought and love of Jesus and was deeply moved by it. I dont understand the female plunging down though. Was it someone he wronged, or lost.......? <br /> <br /> Teena.Mae<br /> Georgia USA