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.
I'm alone, sitting with my broken glass
My four walls follow me through my past
I was on a Paris train, I emerged in London rain
And you waiting there swimming through apologies
I remember searching for the perfect words
I was hoping you might change your mind
I remember the soldier standing next to me
Riding on the metro
I was smiling as you took my hand
Saw the moon we spoke in France
You were past the shallow words
Years have passed and still I hurt
You were past the shallow words
Years have passed and still I hurt
I can see you now, smiling as I pulled away
Sorry
I remember the letter wrinkled in my hand
"I love you always" filled my eyes
I remember the night we walked along the Seine
Riding on the metro
I remember a feeling coming over me
The soldier turned, then walked away
Fuck you for loving me
Riding on the metro
My four walls follow me through my past
I was on a Paris train, I emerged in London rain
And you waiting there swimming through apologies
I remember searching for the perfect words
I was hoping you might change your mind
I remember the soldier standing next to me
Riding on the metro
I was smiling as you took my hand
Saw the moon we spoke in France
You were past the shallow words
Years have passed and still I hurt
You were past the shallow words
Years have passed and still I hurt
I can see you now, smiling as I pulled away
Sorry
I remember the letter wrinkled in my hand
"I love you always" filled my eyes
I remember the night we walked along the Seine
Riding on the metro
I remember a feeling coming over me
The soldier turned, then walked away
Fuck you for loving me
Riding on the metro
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Light Up The Sky
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Tracy Chapman
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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.
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,
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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
This is an obvious, but an amazingly intense, song. It is obviously from the point of view of a woman who's lover was a soldier in some war. "I'll love you always"....Hmm? Doesn't this sound like something a soldier would say to his significant other when he is dying on a battlefield? It seems to me like something a soldier would say to another soldier to tell to his wife. "I was hoping you would change your mind" seems like the wife was trying to convince him not to go to the war.
Or perhaps these are flashbacks while riding on the metro that the wife has of her husband joiningto go into war. Seems obvious enough. Oh, and to nant, there are curse words in lyrics, I dont see why curses can't be implememnted into posts...