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.
Dear Believer, come sing me a song
Let the octave belong to the next
And lifting us soundly back into the world
May we sing the Earth, Heaven's breath
Murder murder, you haunt every bone
But the son you have grown still resists
Anger anger, you're finally my bitch
Through glory of this, Heaven's breath
Paradise has its hunter
Call me blind, call me fool
I don't mind chasing thunder
I say reaching for Heaven is what I'm on Earth to do
Dear Believer, I've no cause to go on
Save for if you take my case
See the world was good and heavy on my shoulders as a child
But I let it all go to my waist
Now comfort's rooting pigs for my blood
To stick in my mud, a flag of white
Dear Believer, of fire and rebirth
May we shine the Earth, Heaven's light
Paradise has its hunter
Call me blind, call me fool
I don't mind chasing thunder
I say reaching for Heaven is what I'm on Earth to do
Dear Believer come sing us a song
Like we sang upon, younger days
When the world was good and heavy on our shoulders as a child
'Fore we let it all go to waste
Paradise has its hunter
Call me wise, call me fool
I don't mind chasing thunder
I say reaching for Heaven is what I'm on Earth to do
I say reaching for Heaven is what I'm on Earth to do
Maybe reaching for Heaven is what I'm on Earth to do
Let the octave belong to the next
And lifting us soundly back into the world
May we sing the Earth, Heaven's breath
Murder murder, you haunt every bone
But the son you have grown still resists
Anger anger, you're finally my bitch
Through glory of this, Heaven's breath
Paradise has its hunter
Call me blind, call me fool
I don't mind chasing thunder
I say reaching for Heaven is what I'm on Earth to do
Dear Believer, I've no cause to go on
Save for if you take my case
See the world was good and heavy on my shoulders as a child
But I let it all go to my waist
Now comfort's rooting pigs for my blood
To stick in my mud, a flag of white
Dear Believer, of fire and rebirth
May we shine the Earth, Heaven's light
Paradise has its hunter
Call me blind, call me fool
I don't mind chasing thunder
I say reaching for Heaven is what I'm on Earth to do
Dear Believer come sing us a song
Like we sang upon, younger days
When the world was good and heavy on our shoulders as a child
'Fore we let it all go to waste
Paradise has its hunter
Call me wise, call me fool
I don't mind chasing thunder
I say reaching for Heaven is what I'm on Earth to do
I say reaching for Heaven is what I'm on Earth to do
Maybe reaching for Heaven is what I'm on Earth to do
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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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From Spin's interview with Alex Ebert:
Spin: On "Dear Believer" you say "Call me wise / call me fool." Wouldn't you rather be one than the other?
Alex: "Dear Believer" is about something else, though. It's about the fact that it's irrelevant whether or not I can create heaven on earth or utopia or anything like that. It's irrelevant to me that you might say it's impossible. It's irrelevant to me if it is impossible. I'm going to do it anyway. It's not that I think I'm going to succeed necessarily. And it's not that I claim I'm going to succeed. I'm just going to do it anyway. Because I don't really know what else I'm doing here. That seems to be the only thing that makes sense as far as being on earth.
Link: spin.com/articles/edward-sharpes-alex-ebert-were-not-60s-ride-disneyland
I think you got most of them correct, but there are a few mistakes + I'm adding the parts you didn't have. These are the lyrics on the back of the album sleeve.
Dear Believe come sing me a song Let the octave belong to the next And lifting us soundly back into the world May we sing the Earth, Heaven's breath Murder murder, you haunt every bone But the son you have grown still resists Anger anger, you're finally my bitch Through glory of this, Heaven's breath.
Paradise, has its hunter Call me blind, call me fool I don't mind chasing thunder I say reaching for Heaven is what I'm on Earth to do.
Dear Believer, I've no cause to go on Save for if you take my case See the world was good and heavy on my shoulders as a child But I let it all go to my waist Now comfort's rooting pigs for my blood To stick in my mud, a flag of white Dear Believer, of fire and rebirth May we shine the Earth, Heaven's light
(Chorus)
Dear Believer come sing us a song Like we sang upon, younger days When the world was good and heavy on our shoulders as a child 'Fore we let it all go to waste.
Paradise has its hunter Call me wise, call me fool I don't mind chasing thunder I say reaching for Heaven is what I'm on Earth to do
I say reaching for Heaven is what I'm on Earth to do Maybe reaching for Heaven is what I'm on Earth to do...
The band members explain the meaning of the song in this video. It primarily is about being on earth, with all its shit and pain, but reaching for heaven anyway; even if you know you will never get to heaven. Being optimistic while knowing there sometimes isn't much reason to be optimistic.
youtube.com/watch