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.
Boy, you know you make me float
Boy, you really get me high (ooh)
I feel like I'm on dope
'Cause you, you serve me on a regular (you serve me on a regular)
Boy, we need to tie this rope
Before we drift any deeper (before we drift any deeper)
There now hold me close
Boy, let's take this overboard now
I want you to rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat (yeah)
Work it in the middle
Work the middle, work the middle, work the middle
Change positions for me (change positions)
New positions, new position, new position
Now stroke it, baby (stroke it for me)
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me, stroke it for me
Ooh, baby, I love your stroke
'Cause you, 'cause you get me where I'm going
('Cause you get me where I'm going, yeah)
And truly you'll get my vote
'Cause I believe
I believe you know just what you're doing now
Baby, now we can coast (let's coast, let's coast)
Let's don't get in a hurry (no, no)
That's too slow (hey, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Go ahead and put that thing in overdrive
I want you to rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat (hey)
Work it in the middle (work it, baby, work it, baby)
Work the middle, work the middle, work the middle
Change positions for me (change positions)
New position, new position, new position
Now stroke it, baby (stroke it for me)
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me, stroke it for me
I want you to rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat (hey)
Work it in the middle
Work the middle, work the middle, work the middle (hey, hey)
Change positions for me (change positions)
New position, new position, new position
Now stroke it, baby (stroke it for me)
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me, stroke it for me (yeah)
Stroke it for me
Hmm, stroke it, baby, stroke it, baby
Hmm, work it it, baby, work it, baby
Ooh, stroke it
There is something I want you to do for me
I want you to use yourself (hey)
Like you never ever used it before (never)
To explore my body (explore it, baby)
Until you reach the shore (yeah)
You'll be calling, calling for more (callin')
Rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat
Work it in the middle
Work the middle, work the middle, work the middle
(Work it, baby, work it, baby)
Change positions for me (change positions)
New position, new position, new position
Now stroke it, baby (stroke it for me)
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me, stroke it for me (baby)
I want you to rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat
Work it in the middle
Work the middle, work the middle, work the middle (work it, yeah)
Change positions for me (change positions)
New position, new position, new position (change)
Now stroke it, baby (stroke it for me)
Stroke it for me (yeah), stroke it for me, stroke it for me
Rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat
Work the middle, work the middle
Work the middle, work the middle
Change positions for me (change positions)
New position, new position, new position
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me
Rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat
Boy, you really get me high (ooh)
I feel like I'm on dope
'Cause you, you serve me on a regular (you serve me on a regular)
Boy, we need to tie this rope
Before we drift any deeper (before we drift any deeper)
There now hold me close
Boy, let's take this overboard now
I want you to rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat (yeah)
Work it in the middle
Work the middle, work the middle, work the middle
Change positions for me (change positions)
New positions, new position, new position
Now stroke it, baby (stroke it for me)
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me, stroke it for me
Ooh, baby, I love your stroke
'Cause you, 'cause you get me where I'm going
('Cause you get me where I'm going, yeah)
And truly you'll get my vote
'Cause I believe
I believe you know just what you're doing now
Baby, now we can coast (let's coast, let's coast)
Let's don't get in a hurry (no, no)
That's too slow (hey, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Go ahead and put that thing in overdrive
I want you to rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat (hey)
Work it in the middle (work it, baby, work it, baby)
Work the middle, work the middle, work the middle
Change positions for me (change positions)
New position, new position, new position
Now stroke it, baby (stroke it for me)
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me, stroke it for me
I want you to rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat (hey)
Work it in the middle
Work the middle, work the middle, work the middle (hey, hey)
Change positions for me (change positions)
New position, new position, new position
Now stroke it, baby (stroke it for me)
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me, stroke it for me (yeah)
Stroke it for me
Hmm, stroke it, baby, stroke it, baby
Hmm, work it it, baby, work it, baby
Ooh, stroke it
There is something I want you to do for me
I want you to use yourself (hey)
Like you never ever used it before (never)
To explore my body (explore it, baby)
Until you reach the shore (yeah)
You'll be calling, calling for more (callin')
Rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat
Work it in the middle
Work the middle, work the middle, work the middle
(Work it, baby, work it, baby)
Change positions for me (change positions)
New position, new position, new position
Now stroke it, baby (stroke it for me)
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me, stroke it for me (baby)
I want you to rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat
Work it in the middle
Work the middle, work the middle, work the middle (work it, yeah)
Change positions for me (change positions)
New position, new position, new position (change)
Now stroke it, baby (stroke it for me)
Stroke it for me (yeah), stroke it for me, stroke it for me
Rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat
Work the middle, work the middle
Work the middle, work the middle
Change positions for me (change positions)
New position, new position, new position
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me
Stroke it for me, stroke it for me
Rock the boat (rock the boat)
Rock the boat, rock the boat, rock the boat
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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/
at least she had the guts to say how she felt...leave her be...its a song about lust..haven't you ever wanted somebody to rock your boat???