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.
No pagliaccio non son
se il viso e' palido
e di vergogna
e smania di vendetta
l'uom riprende i suoi dritti
e l'cor che sanguina vuol sangre
a lavar l'onta
o maledetta
no pagliaccio non son
son quei che stolido
ti raccolse orfanella in su la via
quasi morta di fame
e un nome offriati
ed un amor ch'era febre e follia
Comare mi fa piangere
par vera questa scena
zitte laggiu!
che diamine
sperai tanto il delirio
accecato m'avveva
se non amor pieta' merce
ed ogni sacrifizio al cor
lieto imponeva
e fidente credeva
piu' che in dio stesso in te
ma il vizio alberga sol
ne l'alma tua neggleta
tu viscere non hai
sol legge e il senso a te
va non merti il mio duol
o meretrice abbieta
vo nello sprezzo mio
schiacciarti sotto i pie
bravo!
ebben, se mi giudichi di te integna
mi scaccia in questo istante
ah ah!
di meglio chiedere non dei
che correr tosto al caro amante
sei furba!
no per dio tu resterai
e il nome del tuo ganzo mi dirai
suvvia, cosi' terribile
da ver non ti credeo
qui nulla v'ha di tragico
vieni a dirgli o taddeo
che l'uom seduto or dianzi a me vicino
era il pauroso ed innocuo arlecchino
ah tu mi sfidi
e ancor non l'hai capita
ch'io non ti cedo
il nome o la tua vita
no per mia madre
indigna esser poss'io
quello che vuoi
ma vil non son per dio
di quel taro sdegno
e l'amor mio piu' forte
non parlero'
no a costo della morte
il nome il nome
no
santo diavolo
fa davvero
di morte negli spasmi
lo dirai
ferma
soccorso silvio
nedda
ah sei tu ben venga
gesummaria
la commedia e' finita
se il viso e' palido
e di vergogna
e smania di vendetta
l'uom riprende i suoi dritti
e l'cor che sanguina vuol sangre
a lavar l'onta
o maledetta
no pagliaccio non son
son quei che stolido
ti raccolse orfanella in su la via
quasi morta di fame
e un nome offriati
ed un amor ch'era febre e follia
Comare mi fa piangere
par vera questa scena
zitte laggiu!
che diamine
sperai tanto il delirio
accecato m'avveva
se non amor pieta' merce
ed ogni sacrifizio al cor
lieto imponeva
e fidente credeva
piu' che in dio stesso in te
ma il vizio alberga sol
ne l'alma tua neggleta
tu viscere non hai
sol legge e il senso a te
va non merti il mio duol
o meretrice abbieta
vo nello sprezzo mio
schiacciarti sotto i pie
bravo!
ebben, se mi giudichi di te integna
mi scaccia in questo istante
ah ah!
di meglio chiedere non dei
che correr tosto al caro amante
sei furba!
no per dio tu resterai
e il nome del tuo ganzo mi dirai
suvvia, cosi' terribile
da ver non ti credeo
qui nulla v'ha di tragico
vieni a dirgli o taddeo
che l'uom seduto or dianzi a me vicino
era il pauroso ed innocuo arlecchino
ah tu mi sfidi
e ancor non l'hai capita
ch'io non ti cedo
il nome o la tua vita
no per mia madre
indigna esser poss'io
quello che vuoi
ma vil non son per dio
di quel taro sdegno
e l'amor mio piu' forte
non parlero'
no a costo della morte
il nome il nome
no
santo diavolo
fa davvero
di morte negli spasmi
lo dirai
ferma
soccorso silvio
nedda
ah sei tu ben venga
gesummaria
la commedia e' finita
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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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.
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Great version of a great song,
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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.
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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/