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.
If I one day found my way back home
One more ride for the hell of it
If I one day found my way back home
I would tell you how I love you so
One more time for the road tonight, honey
One more try just for the hell of it
Cinder blocks are keeping me inside
Wall so thick, cold yet benign
One more time for the road tonight, honey
One more try just for the hell of it
Can I stay away from you
If I get out of here soon?
Would the road be paved by my mistakes, by the law or by you?
Every wall in here is blue,
Every man here knows you too
We have seen your every curve,
The sole good purpose you serve
Yeah!
I'm safe, I'm safe in here from you, I know
'Cause you can't make me do things I would not otherwise do
One more time for the road tonight, honey
One more try just for the hell of it
When you're done with your wining and dining
You make a man do things that wind him up in jail
One more ride for the hell of it
If I one day found my way back home
I would tell you how I love you so
One more time for the road tonight, honey
One more try just for the hell of it
Cinder blocks are keeping me inside
Wall so thick, cold yet benign
One more time for the road tonight, honey
One more try just for the hell of it
Can I stay away from you
If I get out of here soon?
Would the road be paved by my mistakes, by the law or by you?
Every wall in here is blue,
Every man here knows you too
We have seen your every curve,
The sole good purpose you serve
Yeah!
I'm safe, I'm safe in here from you, I know
'Cause you can't make me do things I would not otherwise do
One more time for the road tonight, honey
One more try just for the hell of it
When you're done with your wining and dining
You make a man do things that wind him up in jail
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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.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
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.
This song is definitely about jailbait.
The man always asks for one for the road, and even though he knows the girl sees other guys for sexual interests, she drives him crazy, she knows how to please him and the moment is quite good and he enjoys it a lot. But she means nothing to him, it's all about sexual pleasure.