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.
Do what you want
'Cause I'll do anything
And I'll take the blame
What's mine is yours
You can have all of it
And I'll learn to pay
Oh the boys on the radio
They crash and burn
They fold and fade so slow
In your endless summer night
I'll be on the other side
When you're beautiful and dying
All the world that you've denied
When the water is too deep
You can close your eyes and really sleep tonight
Tonight
I want what's yours
Oh I'd give anything
And I'll take the pain
I wait alone
For what will never come
And I'll throw it all away
Oh the boys on the radio
They crash and burn
They fold and fade so slow
In your endless summer night
I'll be on the other side
When you're beautiful and dying
All the world that you've denied
When the water is too deep
You can close your eyes and really sleep tonight
Your beauty blinds
If I let you in under my skin
And risen every angel slain
He said he'd never, ever, ever go
And heavens, heavens, heavens know
And never, ever, ever go away
Baby, I've gone away
In your endless summer night
I'll be on the other side
When you're beautiful and dying
All the world that you've denied
When the water is too deep
You can close your eyes and really sleep tonight
Your beauty blinds
I know what you are running to
Please come back
Oh, come back again
I hear the truth
It's coming from you
Oh, come back
Won't come back again
In your endless summer night
I'll be on the other side
When the water is too deep
I will ease your suffering
When the glitter fades in morning
Turn away and you will find my empty eyes
Your beauty blinds
I know that you are rotten to the core
I know that you don't love me anymore
I know that you are rotten to the core
'Cause I'll do anything
And I'll take the blame
What's mine is yours
You can have all of it
And I'll learn to pay
Oh the boys on the radio
They crash and burn
They fold and fade so slow
In your endless summer night
I'll be on the other side
When you're beautiful and dying
All the world that you've denied
When the water is too deep
You can close your eyes and really sleep tonight
Tonight
I want what's yours
Oh I'd give anything
And I'll take the pain
I wait alone
For what will never come
And I'll throw it all away
Oh the boys on the radio
They crash and burn
They fold and fade so slow
In your endless summer night
I'll be on the other side
When you're beautiful and dying
All the world that you've denied
When the water is too deep
You can close your eyes and really sleep tonight
Your beauty blinds
If I let you in under my skin
And risen every angel slain
He said he'd never, ever, ever go
And heavens, heavens, heavens know
And never, ever, ever go away
Baby, I've gone away
In your endless summer night
I'll be on the other side
When you're beautiful and dying
All the world that you've denied
When the water is too deep
You can close your eyes and really sleep tonight
Your beauty blinds
I know what you are running to
Please come back
Oh, come back again
I hear the truth
It's coming from you
Oh, come back
Won't come back again
In your endless summer night
I'll be on the other side
When the water is too deep
I will ease your suffering
When the glitter fades in morning
Turn away and you will find my empty eyes
Your beauty blinds
I know that you are rotten to the core
I know that you don't love me anymore
I know that you are rotten to the core
Lyrics submitted by onearmedscissor, edited by scottdoesntknow628
Boys On the Radio Lyrics as written by Courtney M. Love Eric T Erlandson
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
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,
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
courtney love said:
"It's from our Unplugged days. It started out all peppy and poppy, but then Jeff Buckley died, and it became a homage to Evan [Dando] and Jeff and Brian Wilson. It's all about self-destructive pop boys."