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.
When I close my eyes, I can see for miles
There's comfort in my dark seat
And chaos in the aisles
These eyes are not your eyes
And these eyes are not the color that
Your arid eyes might be
No, I was not around
When those eyes of yours decided so
I refuse to kneel before
The sights you choose to see
When I close my eyes, I remember why I smile
Under my umbrella, I'm an accomplished exile
These eyes are not your eyes
And these eyes are not the color that
Your arid eyes might be
No, I was not around
When those eyes of yours decided so
I refuse to kneel before the sights you choose to see
If this is right, I'd rather be wrong
If this is sight, I'd rather be blind
These eyes are not your eyes
And these eyes are not the color that
Your arid eyes might be
No, I was not around
When those eyes of yours decided so
I refuse to kneel before the sights you choose to see
If this is right, I'd rather be wrong
If this is sight, I'd rather be blind
There's comfort in my dark seat
And chaos in the aisles
These eyes are not your eyes
And these eyes are not the color that
Your arid eyes might be
No, I was not around
When those eyes of yours decided so
I refuse to kneel before
The sights you choose to see
When I close my eyes, I remember why I smile
Under my umbrella, I'm an accomplished exile
These eyes are not your eyes
And these eyes are not the color that
Your arid eyes might be
No, I was not around
When those eyes of yours decided so
I refuse to kneel before the sights you choose to see
If this is right, I'd rather be wrong
If this is sight, I'd rather be blind
These eyes are not your eyes
And these eyes are not the color that
Your arid eyes might be
No, I was not around
When those eyes of yours decided so
I refuse to kneel before the sights you choose to see
If this is right, I'd rather be wrong
If this is sight, I'd rather be blind
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Light Up The Sky
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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.
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."
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
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 the greatest songs ever written. im serious, this is the most underappreciated song ive ever heard.
"when i close my eyes i can see for miles" - when things start to seem like they're too much to take, just close your eyes and pretend everything's alright, therefore seeing for miles.
"there's comfort in my dark seat and chaos in the aisles" - from the view of an outcast in society, watching the world around him/her. there's comfort in his loneliness while hes watching all the chaos in the world around him. if you've ever been in this position this is such a perfect description.
"These eyes are not your eyes And these eyes are not the colors that Your arid eyes might be" - watching a friend change with society, or becoming popular. the outcast knows who the real person is and is seeing the person/friend he knew change into something they aren't. the other lines are basically saying well, maybe i never really knew the real person. they might really be who they're becoming.
"Now I was not around When those eyes of yours decided so I refuse to kneel before the sights you chose to see" - basically, this is about not wanting to comform to society and having your life controlled. 'the sights you chose to see' basically is saying i refuse to live my life the way you've already decided for me
"When I close my eyes I remember why I smile" - same as first two lines of song
"Under my umbrella I'm an accomplished exile" - under my umbrella is a metaphor for kind of like, watching society from your safe little haven. watching people go to waste, etc. just wondering how people can be so stupid...and trying to do the right thing.
Chorus twice, then this
"If this is right... I'd rather be wrong... If this is sight... I'd rather be blind! " - if what society deems normal is right/sight, then i'd rather be wrong/blind...