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.
She's dressed in black again
And I'm falling down again
Down to the floor again
I'm begging for more again
But, oh, what can you do when she's dressed in black?
My mind wanders endlessly
On paths where she's leading me
With games that she likes to play
And words that she doesn't say
Not when we're alone and she's dressed in black
As a picture of herself
She's a picture of the world
A reflection of you, a reflection of me
And it's all there to see if you only give in to the fire within
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
Shadows fall onto me
As she stands there over me
And waits to encompass me
I lay here helplessly
But, oh, what can you do when she's dressed in black?
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
And I'm falling down again
Down to the floor again
I'm begging for more again
But, oh, what can you do when she's dressed in black?
My mind wanders endlessly
On paths where she's leading me
With games that she likes to play
And words that she doesn't say
Not when we're alone and she's dressed in black
As a picture of herself
She's a picture of the world
A reflection of you, a reflection of me
And it's all there to see if you only give in to the fire within
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
Shadows fall onto me
As she stands there over me
And waits to encompass me
I lay here helplessly
But, oh, what can you do when she's dressed in black?
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
(Oh-oh) dressed in black again
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
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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.
Dreamwalker
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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.
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Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
American Town
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
The unique thing about the album "Black Celebration" is that rather simple, but beautiful songs like this one (along with Sometimes, It Doesn't Matter Two, Here Is The House, World Full Of Nothing) make a great counterpoint to those classic Mode anthems like Stripped, A Question Of Time, Black Celebration, Fly On The Windscreen.
They add up to a well-balanced mixture that IMHO no other DM album achieved - even though it's not my top favourite one.