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.
And they're making children
And they're making love
With their old excuses
We are built for reproduction
But I find it soothing
When I am confined
I'm just fearing one day soon
I'll lose my mind
Then I'll lose my children
Then I'll lose my love
Then I'll sit in silence
Let the pictures soak
Out of televisions
Float across the room
Whisper into one ear
And out the other one
Then I'll take my clothes off
And I'll walk around
Because it's so nice outside
And I like the way the sun feels
And when it's dark
I'll call out in the night for my mother
But she isn't coming back for me
'Cause she's already gone
But you will not tell me that
'Cause you know it hurts me every time you say it
And you know you're doing the right thing
You must know you're doing the right thing
I have lost my children
I have lost my love
I just sit in silence
Let the pictures soak
Out of televisions
Out of televisions
Out of televisions
Out of televisions
Out of televisions
And they're making children
Everyone's in love
I just sit in silence
Let the pictures soak
And they're making love
With their old excuses
We are built for reproduction
But I find it soothing
When I am confined
I'm just fearing one day soon
I'll lose my mind
Then I'll lose my children
Then I'll lose my love
Then I'll sit in silence
Let the pictures soak
Out of televisions
Float across the room
Whisper into one ear
And out the other one
Then I'll take my clothes off
And I'll walk around
Because it's so nice outside
And I like the way the sun feels
And when it's dark
I'll call out in the night for my mother
But she isn't coming back for me
'Cause she's already gone
But you will not tell me that
'Cause you know it hurts me every time you say it
And you know you're doing the right thing
You must know you're doing the right thing
I have lost my children
I have lost my love
I just sit in silence
Let the pictures soak
Out of televisions
Out of televisions
Out of televisions
Out of televisions
Out of televisions
And they're making children
Everyone's in love
I just sit in silence
Let the pictures soak
Lyrics submitted by TheCatsDiamond
Doing the Right Thing Lyrics as written by Elena Veronica Tonra Igor Alexandre Haefeli
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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I agree with LoudSilences above about the speaker being disillusioned with life. I also think that this woman feels some regret. Since she didn't buy into the expectations to get married and reproduce, she is left alone. Her mother is dead, so she has no family. The only person she seems to have is this friend (or lover maybe since this person hears the speaker call out in the night) who is doing the "right thing" by refraining from reminding the speaker that her mother is gone. It hurts to much to think about that loss.
It's a haunting song that can be read more than one way, but in this vein, it's kind of like the speaker has lost her children and her love (big Love--not the lover who hears her in the night) before she even had them. It is soothing, especially as an artist, to be confined, but I believe there is a fear that she will be left alone one day with only the "pictures" to fill her up. That is, besides the time she spends with herself, exercising her creativity.
@mbryarwood **too much