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.
LIFES A CARNIVAL-THEY EAT YOUR MONEY UP LIKE A CARNIVORE-THE BIGGER THE PRIZE LIKE THE DINOSAUR-THE HARDER TO BE THE CONCOROAR-THE HARDER TO WIN THE CON'S SCORE-I BE MANU AND SAVE YOU-BUT THEN I COULD BE MALARIA 50 SOMETHING BILLION DEAD-I GOT THE COLORFUL KOI LIVE WALLPAPER ON MY PHONE-SOON AS I TAP THEM LIKE MY HOES-THEY RUN AWAY WITH MY SOUL-ODD TO FIND CAPTAIN NEMO-AND HIS FORTUNE OF GOLD-WE GRIMEY LIKE THE BEVERLY HILLS CAR CLUB IN EAST L.A-SELL YOU A CAR THAT COST MORE THEN A HOME IN THE HOOD ALL DAY-I WOULD RATHER DO THE SILENT STRETCH-THEN TO REVEAL AT THE VIOLIN'S STRETCH-I'D RATHER HAVE MY CASE OPEN PLAYING MY VIOLIN-ACCEPTING COINS AND MONEY-THEN TO TURN ON MY PEOPLE'S ODD FUNNY-WELCOME TO THE CARNIVAL THEY SAY WHEN YOU ARRIVE-THE DIAMOND HEAD SNAKE IS THE YARD OUTSIDE-WHERE WE FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT-TO DIE-AS A IDOLIZED IN DRAGON HEAD PLIGHT-THE CELLS ARE THE BEASTS BELLY THAT HOLDS OUR SOULS-CALL IT CHARCOAL-LIKE KINGSFORD TO JADE TREE LN RIDGESIDE HOLDS-LOOKING OUT FOR THE EVIL CLOWNS OF BARNUM-CUZ THEY SURELY WILL HARM US-AND GET OUR SEQUOIA'S AND PARK UM-LIKE NIGHTMARE IN KNOTTS SCARY FARM-LIKE WHEN THE VAMPIRES COME OUT IN GHOST HOUSE THE MUSIC IS TO FOREWARN-LIKE WHEN THE BLACK WIDOWS COME OUT THE BAGS OF CANS IN THE BACK YARD-I SEEN THE NEW YORK NEW YORK IN VEGAS AND THE SUPERMAN AT 6 FLAGS BEFORE MY LONG BID-LIKE IF I WAS LEX LUTHOR GOING A GREEN ISLAND L.A BROOKLYN CRYPTONITE MISSION IN DA PEN-THE WAY I SPIT THAT RAW SHIT YOU GOTTA BUILD TOILETS IN THE BASEMENT-PITTSBURG POTTY MOUTHS I TRAINED TO MAKE LEAN RAINBENT-WORLD WAR 1 AND 2 HEAT-THAT WILL BACK UP THE STREETS-HAVE IT CLOGGED UP AS WE FLOOD OUT THE UNCLEAN-WITH THE STEELE CURTAIN HAZMAT BIG D-BIG BEN TELLING LITTLE JOE'S TO TAKE 5 AFTER YOU USE YOUR HANDS TO CLEAN-REOPEN NAN MADOL AND HAVE A GHOST CITY BALL-LOOK AT ALL THE SPACES IN BETWEEN WHEN I BEAT IT UP RAW-LIKE WELCOME TO MY CARNEVAL-RAWHEAD T-REX HOES ONLY INVOLVED-TEMWEN ISLAND TIP-NO MICRONESIA WHEN I DIG-WITH MY LEAN DRILL DICC-ATLANTIC, BROOKLYN, AND THE ISLAND THAT'S GREEN-ABI CRIPS ETERNALLY-THE ROOTS OF THIS GANGSTA SHIT THE ORIGINAL TURF STREETS-IMA FRESH CUP OF NOODLE NINJA MYSELD-BUT THEY MADE ME GROW UP ON TAP WATER REGULAR RAMENS IN HELL-IN MY CELLS-THEM CUP OF NOODLES COST A GRIP-OR THERE'S A LIMIT-YOU CAN BUY 2 CASES OF 48 REGULAR SOUPS FOR ONE BOX OF CUP OF NOODLES-CANTEEN PRICES SOMETIMES MAKE YOUR POCCETS GO THRUVO-I GOT THE HOOKS AND SON FEED AND SUPPLY-NINJAZ WANT TO EAT IT YOU SURELY GON DIE-LIKE BUSTING RIGHT THE TAIL PIPE-A SWEET TOOTH MINION TRUCC OF DEMISE-TWISTED METAL COMIN AT YOUR CREW ON DIRT BIKES-AS I LEAVE EM COVERED IN SLAUGHTER TRUCC GRIME-COME HERE LIKE SCORPION SAY AND ENJOY THE CARNIVAL LIFE-JEEPERS CREEPERS 3 IS THE RIDE-BEATNGU MY BEAT MACHINE AND PRODUCER DAW-KILLER SOUNDS THAT WILL LEAVE THE MURDA SHOW IN AWE-THE ONLY WAY TO KILL THE TRACCS WITH LEAN OVERFLOW ON FREESTYLE RAW-LIKE THE STREET SWEEP ON THE TRUCC-YOU OTHER HATERS SHOOTING NERF BALLS YOU AIN'T FUCCIN WITH US-PUT YA CAN OPENER AWAY-THE HATCHET MAN WANTS ROYALTIES ON THIS REMAKE-ON THE MARK OF THE BEAST RETAKE-MY BIG BOOTY TEASERS-BE THE FLIRTY TEASERS-WITH MY BIG TOOTY PLEASER-THY OPEN MOUTHS BE ON MONTEBELLO MALL TO HILLOCK TO MANTOVA DRIVES-TO MULTIVIEW IN THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS HIGH-YOU SEE ALLY AND LUCY WITH THE JW DARWIN FROG?-LITTLE SYD K. THE BIRDS ESTATES MOB-LIKE CLOVERDALE TO CHLOE TRAIL-LUCKY TO LUCY A 4 LEAF CLOVER CLONE TAIL-IT'S FOR THE RECORD BOOKS-MY SWEET CANDY HOOK JUICE-FOR MY BLACC HARLEY LOOKIN CROOKS-IF I DON'T SEND THEM MY LIQUID TOOT-THEN IT'S IN THE TRASH WITH WASTED FOOD-BUT ONE WOMENS TREASURE IS THE NEXT MANS JUNK TOO-OFF TO THE DUMP THE JUNKYARD WHERE MY LIL SODIERS HET BURRIED TOO-I CAN'T MISS WITH THE RAINBOW RODMAN CIRCLE INFRA BEAMS ON HIT-HINDU DOTS GOT ME FEELING OPPRESSED SO I BRING DAYLIT LIKE DALIT WHEN I SPIT-A LOWER OUTCAST OF OUTLAWZ IS WHO I GREW UP WITH-MENACE TO SOCIETY CLICCS-NO RED DOTS JUST PIMPLES AND A BIG BLACKHEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF MY FOREHEAD-YOU I GREW UP EATING JAPANESE POORIDGE-THE RED DOT WAS THE UMABOSHI-THAT'S WHY I DID TOO MUCH RIDING ON MY YOSHI-YOUR RANKING BREATH IS THE GREATEST LIKE ALI TALKING A SHIT AFTER LOSING THE BIG FIGHT-NO ROPE A DOPE IN SIGHT-NO BEE STING OR BUTTERFLIES-JUST POLLEN ON DANDYLION BLOWN AWAY TO EASY WITH NO TITLE PRIZE-WELCOME TO THE HATERS NO WANTS ADMISSION TO THERE CARNIVAL LIFE-YOU CAN KEEP THE GAMES AND THE PRIZE-WE WILL KEEP THE FAME OF GOD'S PIE-THE FRAME OF THE SKY-THE NAME OF THE CLOUD NINES-THE FACE OF OUR TIME-AND SAVE IT FOR THE RAIN WHEN THE SUN DON'T RAY SHINE-LET'S BE RATIONAL THEY DON'T PUT OUT THESE FREE BEATS CUZ THEY WANNA SEE ME ON THE COVER OF FORBES-OR BECAUSE THEY LOVE MY FORENSIC FILES NARRATOR VOICE FRESH OUT THE LEVEL 4-NO THEY LOVE THEMSELVES WAY MORE-NO C.S.I TO DISCOVER THEY ARE IN LOVE WITH SMOORE'S-NOT WITH MY GODZILLA FIRE FROM THE SEA FLOOR-LIKE NEW FOLSOM C-4-THEN EXPLODIN BACC TO THE GREEN CORE-TO REUNITE WITH THE LEAN CORPS-MY HOES GOT THOSE FAMOUS ASSETS ON ASSES-HOLLYWOOD BOWL MUSEUM MOUTH OPEN WIDE FOR MY HOLLYWOOD BOWLING BALLS ON GHETTO BASTARD-THE HARDEST METAL DOME GUARANTEED TO LEAVE THEM WHIPLASHES-AS I WHIP IT FASTER-LIKE A LEAN MEAN GO GAS GREEN WHIP MASTER-CALL ME MR.EDELMAN LIKE ALDERGATE THE CANDYMAN OF AVALANCHE WAY-THE CONTROLLER OF THE BEE HIVE WITH ALL THE HONEYS ON MAY-READY LIKE EDDIE OR E.D.E-TO SERVE MY WINE FROM MY GHOST BAR LIKE IN L.V-TO THE CASTLLIAN GHOST THAT HAUNTS THE CASTLE LIKE IT'S MY G-INN ON RIGGIN STREET-AND TAK'S CORNER LIKE T.C-WHERE THE DUCCHEADZ LOVE TO SUCC MY HEAD-THEY KEEP ME UP LIKE FUCC BED-THANX TO OUR FUCC BEDS-WE BE CHELAN LIKE CHILLAN LIKE SOME MARAVILLIANS- FOR REELZ AT DA INN-WATCHIN MOBSTAH FLICCS AND GANGSTAHS MOST EVIL EVEY WEEK AND SOMETIMES THE WEEKENDS-BOMB DUCC SO SICC SYCAMORE DON'T WANT NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS-BOMB DUCCHEAD AS I EXPLODE SO SICC NO MISTAKES WHEN I COMBUST IT-BET LIKE LOS TILOS RD AND ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL BETTER VIEW-WHERE THE SICCNESS WON'T FIND YOU-LIKE LIVE FROM THE FORTUNE WELL ROOM 309 ON THE BROOKLYN TRUE BLUE-BELVEDERE PARK TO THE GARDENS WHAT A FANTOM LIKE JADE TREE LANE THE BIG BIRD PROTECTING THE HILLSIDE CREW-WITH THE RODMAN CIRCLE TOOL-BLESSED BY THE SPIRITS OF BUDDAH AND THE THIRD EYE CYCLOPS THAT CALL SEE ALLVIEW-N.SYCAMORE AVE AND FITCH LIL HOMIE THE MAD BOMBER PART TWO-TED DYMER'S OTHER HALF THE J.J'S DOUGHNUTS AND JJ'S BAKERY WANT AD'S FOR JIMMYS GROUP-THE EBK BIG ORANGE GUNS EVERY BANK KILLER-POINTING AT THE FORTUNE WELL WHERE ME AND MY COI'S MY BOYZ ALWAYS HAVE DINNER-VANDERBILLY NIGGAZ-THAT DON'T EAT MINNOWS, OR LINTOS-JUST GASSED UP DRAGONS THAT ROSE FROM THE WATERFALL WITH PINTOS-RESTORED CARS WITH WINGS ON HIT DOE-LIKE SUICIDE LIFT DOES-CALL IT ALL YOU CAN EAT PERRY BOYS HOMETOWN BUFFET PIZZA BIG DOUGH-AND FOR DESSERT THE UNION PLAZA BUFFET CAKES AND CINNAMON ROLLS-
Lyrics submitted by KRC-Roseland Ent-The Pac-Planet9
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Light Up The Sky
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Fast Car
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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,