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.
You look so fine
I want to break your heart
And give you mine
You're taking me over
It's so insane
You've got me tethered and chained
I hear your name
And I'm falling over
I'm not like all the other girls
I can't take it like the other girls
I won't share it like the other girls
That you used to know
You look so fine
Knocked down
Cried out
Been down just to find out
I'm through living for you
I'm open wide
I want to take you home
We're wasting time
You're the only one for me
You look so fine
I'm like the desert tonight
Leave her behind
If you want to show me
I'm not like all the other girls
I won't take it like the other girls
I won't fake it like the other girls
That you used to know
You're taking me over
Over and over
I'm falling over
Over and over
Loving me one more time
Hide inside me tonight
Do what you want to do
Just pretend happy end
Let me know let it show
Ending with letting go (three times)
Let's pretend happy end (four times)
I want to break your heart
And give you mine
You're taking me over
It's so insane
You've got me tethered and chained
I hear your name
And I'm falling over
I'm not like all the other girls
I can't take it like the other girls
I won't share it like the other girls
That you used to know
You look so fine
Knocked down
Cried out
Been down just to find out
I'm through living for you
I'm open wide
I want to take you home
We're wasting time
You're the only one for me
You look so fine
I'm like the desert tonight
Leave her behind
If you want to show me
I'm not like all the other girls
I won't take it like the other girls
I won't fake it like the other girls
That you used to know
You're taking me over
Over and over
I'm falling over
Over and over
Loving me one more time
Hide inside me tonight
Do what you want to do
Just pretend happy end
Let me know let it show
Ending with letting go (three times)
Let's pretend happy end (four times)
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
This is one of my favorite garbage songs. But anyway, I interpret it as a song about love, like she loves this guy that doesn't care especially for her. She is all crazy for him and loves him but he can't see she is different from other girls. He cares somewhat for her, but their relationship is never quite what she wants, so she's like "I'm done being emotionally dragged around by you" like she's waited too long and been ignored (knocked down, through bleeding for you) and finally she just has to completely let go of the relationship. I don't really know.
This is my favourite Garbage song and it always has been. The way I see it: she's madly in love with someone, but he doesn't love her back. They probably have a sexual relationship, but that's it to him. She likes to pretend there's more than that.
The song of embittered would be lovers everywhere. Which is why i listen to it so damn much. But ultimately its about knowing when to give up on something that you know can't happen. "Im through, bleeding for you".
I think the genius of this song is how on a surface level, it seems like a confession of undying love, but when you dig deeper there's so much pain, desperation and sorrow in the lyrics. The repetition of "you look so fine" is so beautiful and fascinating to me; she suffers so much over this guy, but it seems like she's in awe of his ability to make it all okay (I think this could refer to her life in general, too, not just her relationship troubles). It's almost like looking up to him for his lack of pain, maybe by him being so fine she feels like he could put a stop to her troubles too.
"I'm through bleeding for you" - people have been saying this means Shirley's been through so much that she's finally done with it and she's giving up. I disagree -- I think she's saying that she's been hurt so much it's impossible for her to hurt anymore, so she's going to take the plunge and go after this guy (hence the sexual references in the last part).
The chorus is also interesting to me -- it's weird that to set herself apart from the other girls, she tells him "I can't take it". I'm not sure exactly what it means, but I think she's saying she's weak, unstable, can't handle a lot; it's significant that she points out her flaws instead of why she's better than the other girls.
This is my favorite song by far...hoping Garbage comes out with new material soon.
one of my Garbage favorite songs, Shirley sounds so sensitive, emotional and tender.
Very beautiful.
From what I see: It's about being really in love with this guy, who does not want you. They're too busy dating all the other girls. (Maybe because they're cool? Who knows.) When you obvious see all those other girls are just pretending to like him ( "I won't fake it like all the other girls") when she really loves him. And obvious, as mentioned above, "I'm through, bleeding for you" means it can never happened.
Welp that's my five cents.
it's abeautiful song...shirley just sounds so emotionally vulnerable and fragile it's beautiful...
Shirley Is Amazing Like This; She Can Have A Grunge-Piss-Off Tone & Attitude. But She Can Also Have The Help-Me-I'm-Such-A-Delicate-Flower Tone Which Is Beautiful. U Gotta Love Her
a very beautiful song.. she's head over heels on him, but he has another girl. she's completely empty w/out him that's y she wants him desperately (im like the desert tonite, leave her behind). she wants him to realize she's no ordinary girl.. she hates d situation coz whatever she tries to do, she cant hav him..and still, "he looks so fine" as if there's not a slight of burden in him. "Knocked down, cried out, been down just to find out, I'm through bleeding for you"... she had been through all these crap so now, she cant be hurt less..so what she wanna happen is still to hav him..thats it..whether he truly loves her or not. it doesnt matter anymore (lets pretend happy end)
heh, I don't think she goes to such extreme as to killing him. The last verses give it away. It's completely over, but she, or both pretend its a happy end.
Although, the last verse is almost conveying that even though the relationship is a shame, she still lets him f*ck her. Hear me out first:
"You're taking me over Drown in me one more time Hide inside me tonight Do what you want to do Just pretend happy end"
"drown in me... hide in me.. do what you want to do" kind of like is she still sleeps with him. But that's just a theory.