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.
Perhaps I am a miscreation
No one knows the truth there is no future here
And you're the DJ speaks to my insomnia
And laughs at all I have to fear
Laughs at all I have to fear
You always play the madmen poets
Vinyl vision grungy bands
You never know who's still awake
You never know who understands and
Are you out there, can you hear this?
Jimmy Olson, Johnny Memphis,
I was out here listening all the time
And though the static walls surround me
You were out there and you found me
I was out here listening all the time
Last night we drank in parking lots
And why do we drink? I guess we do it cause
And when I turned your station on
You sounded more familiar than that party was
You were more familiar than that party
It's the first time I stayed up all night
It's getting light I hear the birds
I'm driving home on empty streets
I think I put my shirt on backwards
Are you out there, can you hear this
Jimmy Olson , Johnny Memphis
I was out here listening all the time
And though the static walls surround me
You were out there and you found me
I was out here listening all the time
And what's the future, who will choose it?
Politics of love and music
Underdogs who turn the tables
Indie versus major labels
There's so much to see through
Like our parents do more drugs than we do
Oh
Corporate parents, corporate towns
I know every TV set that has them lit
They preach that I should save the world
They pray that I won't do a better job of it
Pray that I won't do a better job
So tonight I turned your station on just so I'd be understood
Instead another voice said I was just too late
And just no good
Calling Olson, Calling Memphis
I am calling, can you hear this?
I was out here listening all the time
And I will write this down
And then I will not be alone again yeah
I was out here listening
Oh yeah I was out here listening
Oh yeah I am out here listening all the time
No one knows the truth there is no future here
And you're the DJ speaks to my insomnia
And laughs at all I have to fear
Laughs at all I have to fear
You always play the madmen poets
Vinyl vision grungy bands
You never know who's still awake
You never know who understands and
Are you out there, can you hear this?
Jimmy Olson, Johnny Memphis,
I was out here listening all the time
And though the static walls surround me
You were out there and you found me
I was out here listening all the time
Last night we drank in parking lots
And why do we drink? I guess we do it cause
And when I turned your station on
You sounded more familiar than that party was
You were more familiar than that party
It's the first time I stayed up all night
It's getting light I hear the birds
I'm driving home on empty streets
I think I put my shirt on backwards
Are you out there, can you hear this
Jimmy Olson , Johnny Memphis
I was out here listening all the time
And though the static walls surround me
You were out there and you found me
I was out here listening all the time
And what's the future, who will choose it?
Politics of love and music
Underdogs who turn the tables
Indie versus major labels
There's so much to see through
Like our parents do more drugs than we do
Oh
Corporate parents, corporate towns
I know every TV set that has them lit
They preach that I should save the world
They pray that I won't do a better job of it
Pray that I won't do a better job
So tonight I turned your station on just so I'd be understood
Instead another voice said I was just too late
And just no good
Calling Olson, Calling Memphis
I am calling, can you hear this?
I was out here listening all the time
And I will write this down
And then I will not be alone again yeah
I was out here listening
Oh yeah I was out here listening
Oh yeah I am out here listening all the time
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
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.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
this song really touches me. i think it's more than just worshipping the radio gods--it's realizing that you're not the only who feels like you do. you may never meet the people that you identify with, but you can hear them and know they've been where you are. it's all about the power of music and how you can be infinitely closer to the music love than the random people you see.
Worshipping the radio gods...
interesting thought.....there are people that influence you that you'll never meet
I've always found it remarkable that people devote themselves SO much to Prinecss Diana, Mother Theresa, Joe Montana....and they never got the opportunity to meet their heroes/saviors/role models.
I heard an interview last year where Dar said she wrote this song about the radio station WDST, Woodstock, NY. "Underdogs who turn the tables, indie versus major labels..." DST is practically the only station in the area not owned by Clear Channel or the like, and it shows: they're also the only one that plays "madmen poets, vinyl vision grungy bands."
But also more than that--what Belle1313 said about identifying with the music you hear on the radio and knowing you're not alone.
I ♥ Dar Williams for this song. It's among my favorites, because she's so aware of the music industry and manages to do well and still stay real.
I was reading an article in the Arts and Entertainment section of my towns newspaper, the Recorder (out of Greenfield, MA) on 93.9 WRSI The River, a local progressive radio station who is celebrating it's 25th year of broadcasting and I stumbled upon this:
"In 1997, nationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Dar Williams wrote a hit song about the station called "Are You Out There." ..at the time Dar Williams was a local resident."
Johnny Olsen used to DJ for the station, and Jimmy Memphis has been the current DJ for quite some time now (and still is), I listen to him most everyday. I thought that this was awesome, and thought I'd share some local history with you all!
Katelyn is right, (except its Johnny Memphis and Jimmy Olsen) but Dar did basically debut her career in Northampton, MA (so did Winterpills if you guys no them), I'm from Westfield, MA and 93.9 The River is my favorite station, and since Dar is back in town playing a show for New Years, the River was talking to her and she said (to Johnny Memphis, after playing this song), that she couldn't even look at him while she was playing because she was embarrassed. It is about The River, she said. They are the only Indie station in the area too.
Does anybody else feel the anger in this song? Doesn't the kid also feel betrayed by these DJ gods? He turns the station on and says he heard another voice say he was "just too late and just no good." And there is a whole angry tone to the music as well. It makes me think that the DJs were trashing his generation, and I think young person feels betrayed by his DJ heroes.
@gnovi Not knowing the backstory, I interpreted that line as indicating that at this crucial moment this station, too, was taken over by the corporate machines and was now churning out generic music -- with no thought of listeners like the narrator.
I never thought about how this song is similar to "Round the Dial" by the Kinks with the fact that she has "Better Things" on this album.