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.
Is it resolution?
Or black and white flying balloons?
Floating off, too colourful
Or is it separation
You put into your coats and sang
Waiting for the world to start again
Ticker tape
Ticker tape
Tick-tick-ticker tape
Is this how you're feeling?
Falling with the world tonight
Cauterized and beautiful
Slide the light
Is this how you're healing?
Out there in the paradigm
Waiting for a cavalcade to come again
Ticker tape
Ticker tape
Tick-tick-ticker tape
Ticker tape
Black light glints with colour
Sudden long and horizontal outlines the star
A sudden draft and quick chill
A single snowflake falls
And that is all
That is all
The world's bass hidden under falling wind
Waiting for the world to start again
Waiting for the world to start again
Waiting for the world to start again
Waiting for the world again
'Cause we're workin' through it
Workin' through your nightmare
Are you leaving for the precipice
Watch the worker, please
As they're working for it
Working through the night shift
And I'm workin' through it
Workin' through the nightmare
Coming back to ghosts inside
Watch the worker, please
As they're working for it
Working through the night shift
'Cause we're workin' through it
Workin' through the nightmare
Watch the worker, please
As they're working for it
Working through the night shift
Yeah they're workin' through it
Workin' through the nightmare
(And I'm hoping for a little juice)
Watch the worker, please
As they're working for it
Working through the night shift
Or black and white flying balloons?
Floating off, too colourful
Or is it separation
You put into your coats and sang
Waiting for the world to start again
Ticker tape
Ticker tape
Tick-tick-ticker tape
Is this how you're feeling?
Falling with the world tonight
Cauterized and beautiful
Slide the light
Is this how you're healing?
Out there in the paradigm
Waiting for a cavalcade to come again
Ticker tape
Ticker tape
Tick-tick-ticker tape
Ticker tape
Black light glints with colour
Sudden long and horizontal outlines the star
A sudden draft and quick chill
A single snowflake falls
And that is all
That is all
The world's bass hidden under falling wind
Waiting for the world to start again
Waiting for the world to start again
Waiting for the world to start again
Waiting for the world again
'Cause we're workin' through it
Workin' through your nightmare
Are you leaving for the precipice
Watch the worker, please
As they're working for it
Working through the night shift
And I'm workin' through it
Workin' through the nightmare
Coming back to ghosts inside
Watch the worker, please
As they're working for it
Working through the night shift
'Cause we're workin' through it
Workin' through the nightmare
Watch the worker, please
As they're working for it
Working through the night shift
Yeah they're workin' through it
Workin' through the nightmare
(And I'm hoping for a little juice)
Watch the worker, please
As they're working for it
Working through the night shift
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.