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.
I overthink and have trouble sleeping
All purpose gone and don't have a reason
And there's no doctor to stop this bleeding
So I left home and jumped in the deep end
Took a job for dad, I think just to please him
So when I quit I just kept it secret
And I had friends but no longer see them
And it's just me, and now all my demons
Are heavy, weighing on my heart
I guess I'm done already, all but given up
I'm burning days 'til the week ends and start
I just pretend I'm not where I am
Should I cancel my plans?
Saturday night is giving 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 giving out love from a plastic bag
Saturday night is giving me a reason
To rely on the strobe light
The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass
And I'll take that
If you're giving out love from a plastic bag
My friend died, it's been years, still grieving
And I thought time would be somehow healing
When love finds me, I'm too numb to feel it
Why the hell am I still here breathing?
Oh, I would pray, but I don't believe it
Woe is me, but I don't care either
Life is not the way that it seems, but
Maybe this will all be a dream
And I'll stay steady, balance on the rope
I guess that I'm not ready to rely on the hope
I'm burning days 'til the week ends and start
I just pretend I'm not where I am
Should I cancel my plans?
Saturday night is giving me a reason
To rely on the strobe light
The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass
And I'll take that
If you're giving out love from a plastic bag
Saturday night is giving me a reason
To rely on the strobe light
The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass
And I'll take that
If you're giving out love from a plastic bag
I'm a wreck head, oh
Take me to the other side
Don't look in my eyes
Oh, whoa
It's almost morning, I'm still not leaving
It's wearing off, but I still can feel it
Another one and I'll touch the ceiling
This is all I want to be
Saturday night is giving me a reason
To rely on the strobe light
The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass
And I'll take that
If you're giving out love from a plastic bag
Saturday night is giving me a reason
To rely on the strobe light
The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass
And I'll take that
If you're giving out love from a plastic bag
All purpose gone and don't have a reason
And there's no doctor to stop this bleeding
So I left home and jumped in the deep end
Took a job for dad, I think just to please him
So when I quit I just kept it secret
And I had friends but no longer see them
And it's just me, and now all my demons
Are heavy, weighing on my heart
I guess I'm done already, all but given up
I'm burning days 'til the week ends and start
I just pretend I'm not where I am
Should I cancel my plans?
Saturday night is giving 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 giving out love from a plastic bag
Saturday night is giving me a reason
To rely on the strobe light
The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass
And I'll take that
If you're giving out love from a plastic bag
My friend died, it's been years, still grieving
And I thought time would be somehow healing
When love finds me, I'm too numb to feel it
Why the hell am I still here breathing?
Oh, I would pray, but I don't believe it
Woe is me, but I don't care either
Life is not the way that it seems, but
Maybe this will all be a dream
And I'll stay steady, balance on the rope
I guess that I'm not ready to rely on the hope
I'm burning days 'til the week ends and start
I just pretend I'm not where I am
Should I cancel my plans?
Saturday night is giving me a reason
To rely on the strobe light
The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass
And I'll take that
If you're giving out love from a plastic bag
Saturday night is giving me a reason
To rely on the strobe light
The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass
And I'll take that
If you're giving out love from a plastic bag
I'm a wreck head, oh
Take me to the other side
Don't look in my eyes
Oh, whoa
It's almost morning, I'm still not leaving
It's wearing off, but I still can feel it
Another one and I'll touch the ceiling
This is all I want to be
Saturday night is giving me a reason
To rely on the strobe light
The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass
And I'll take that
If you're giving out love from a plastic bag
Saturday night is giving me a reason
To rely on the strobe light
The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass
And I'll take that
If you're giving out love from a plastic bag
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
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.
“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.
“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.