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.
Take heed, dear heart once apart
She can touch nor me nor you
Dressed as one a wolf will betray a lamb
Lead astray the gazers
The razors on your seducing skin
In the meadow of sinful thoughts
Every flower's a perfect one
To paradise with pleasure haunted
Haunted by fear
A sin for him
Desire within, desire within
A burning veil
For the bride too dear for him
A sin for him
Desire within, desire within
Fall in love with your deep dark sin
I am the fallen
You are what my sins enclose
Lust is not as creative as its discovery
To paradise with pleasure haunted
Haunted by fear
A sin for him
Desire within, desire within
A burning veil
For the bride too dear for him
A sin for him
Desire within, desire within
Fall in love with your deep dark sin
Bless me, undress me
Pick your prey in a wicked way
God, I must confess, I do envy the sinners
A sin for him
Desire within
A burning veil
For the bride too dear for him
A sin for him
Desire within, desire within
For the bride too dear for him
A sin for him
Desire within, desire within
Fall in love with your deep dark sin
She can touch nor me nor you
Dressed as one a wolf will betray a lamb
Lead astray the gazers
The razors on your seducing skin
In the meadow of sinful thoughts
Every flower's a perfect one
To paradise with pleasure haunted
Haunted by fear
A sin for him
Desire within, desire within
A burning veil
For the bride too dear for him
A sin for him
Desire within, desire within
Fall in love with your deep dark sin
I am the fallen
You are what my sins enclose
Lust is not as creative as its discovery
To paradise with pleasure haunted
Haunted by fear
A sin for him
Desire within, desire within
A burning veil
For the bride too dear for him
A sin for him
Desire within, desire within
Fall in love with your deep dark sin
Bless me, undress me
Pick your prey in a wicked way
God, I must confess, I do envy the sinners
A sin for him
Desire within
A burning veil
For the bride too dear for him
A sin for him
Desire within, desire within
For the bride too dear for him
A sin for him
Desire within, desire within
Fall in love with your deep dark sin
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Yo La Tengo
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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,
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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Ed Sheeran
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The "perfect" flowers could be referring to the botany definition of a perfect flower, which is a flower that is both male and female, rather than the usual definition of being without flaw. In that case, the lines would mean that sinful thoughts aren't confined to a certain gender and that both men and women feel lust.