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.
Hey brother
Happy returns
It's been a while now
I bet you thought that I was dead
But I'm still here
Nothing's changed
Nothing's changed
Hey brother
I'd love to tell you I've been busy
But that would be a lie
'Cause the truth is
The years just pass like trains
I wave but they don't slow down
They don't slow down
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh
Lara-la
Lara-lara-la
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh-lara-la
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh
Lara-la
Lara-lara-la
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh-lara-la
Hey brother
I see the freaks and dispossessed on day release
Avoiding the police
I feel I'm falling once again
But now there's no one left to catch me
Hey brother
I feel I'm living in parentheses
And I got trouble with the bills
Do the kids remember me?
Well I got gifts for them
And for you more sorrow
But I'm feeling kind of drowsy now
So I'll finish this tomorrow
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh
Lara-la
Lara-lara-la
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh-lara-la
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh
Lara-la
Lara-lara-la
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh-lara-la
Happy returns
It's been a while now
I bet you thought that I was dead
But I'm still here
Nothing's changed
Nothing's changed
Hey brother
I'd love to tell you I've been busy
But that would be a lie
'Cause the truth is
The years just pass like trains
I wave but they don't slow down
They don't slow down
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh
Lara-la
Lara-lara-la
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh-lara-la
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh
Lara-la
Lara-lara-la
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh-lara-la
Hey brother
I see the freaks and dispossessed on day release
Avoiding the police
I feel I'm falling once again
But now there's no one left to catch me
Hey brother
I feel I'm living in parentheses
And I got trouble with the bills
Do the kids remember me?
Well I got gifts for them
And for you more sorrow
But I'm feeling kind of drowsy now
So I'll finish this tomorrow
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh
Lara-la
Lara-lara-la
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh-lara-la
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh
Lara-la
Lara-lara-la
Doo-doo-doo-doo-uh-lara-la
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Light Up The Sky
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
No Surprises
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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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
*And for you and sorrow
First up, what a beautiful song!
Can confirm the lyric is "and for you and sorrow", as written in the booklet that comes with the album. Not sure what this means though...
For the song generally I think this is a letter, mostly because of the "so I'll finish this tomorrow", not sure how else that would make sense. I think perhaps this is an unfinished letter the protagonist of the album started writing before she died and was subsequently only discovered much later. Perhaps written to her literal brother.
For background, Steven has stated that the album concept in general is based on the story of Joyce Carol Vincent, a young woman who lived in isolation such that when she died in her apartment the body was not discovered for three years.
@jpdwebb - Yes, definitely an unfinished letter to her brother - the Deluxe book edition actually contains an envelope with a handwritten letter which has the lyrics to the song. Here is the relevant "blog post" from handcannoterase.com: "I barely know my brother. I know he has a wife and 2 children, but I have no idea if he’s happy or what is important to him, I never did, he never gave anything away. Maybe he learnt that from me. I met his family once, the last time I went home for Christmas, 4 years ago, the children were too young to understand who I was, and I’m sure my brother and his wife probably figured their Aunt was always going to be largely absent from their lives anyway, so no point letting them get close to me. But still every year I get a Christmas card from them and an invitation to visit, whether out of duty or genuine concern I couldn’t say. It arrived today and for some reason this time it made me cry. I realised there’s no point now."
@BigRed97 Cool, I actually had read that blog post (before hearing the album so didn't remember/connect it). Makes sense!
@jpdwebb Regarding your first paragraph: I understand it tied to the previous line. She has gifts for the children and sorrow for him by her coming (whether via her telling tales of woe or they dealing/not-dealing with problems between eachother).
Although this album is a mostly fictional account of Joyce Vincent's life, according to her Wikipedia page, her body was indeed found surrounded by wrapped Christmas presents, which seems to suggest that she did intend to reconnect with some of the people she had estranged herself from. That one detail makes a sad story so much sadder.
Agreed, that last line "I'm feeling kind of drowsy now so I'll finish this tomorrow" really hits hard.
@BigRed97 Cool, I actually had read that blog post (before hearing the album so didn't remember/connect it). Makes sense!
Probably one of the saddest songs Wilson ever wrote. My lord, what a feeling of just pit-bottom sorrow that this track soaks into you.