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.
Sworn by the crown
I lead a crusade
Fight for belief to be one
Out in the field
Fearless and cold
Building the road to my Calvary
Strong is my steel
Dark is my mind
Carmine the ground that I tread
Faith in my god keeps me alive
But when does my faith turn to doubt
Silently watching the rain
Carving the earth on my grave
Lord you know that I prayed
One for the glory
And one for the souls that I've slain
How will I know
How could I tell
Where would I find some serenity
Sowing the seed
Unwounded I bleed
Lord won't you show me the way
Christ is the cross that I bear
God is the will of my war
Faint are the voices I hear
Whispers of glory...
I lead a crusade
Fight for belief to be one
Out in the field
Fearless and cold
Building the road to my Calvary
Strong is my steel
Dark is my mind
Carmine the ground that I tread
Faith in my god keeps me alive
But when does my faith turn to doubt
Silently watching the rain
Carving the earth on my grave
Lord you know that I prayed
One for the glory
And one for the souls that I've slain
How will I know
How could I tell
Where would I find some serenity
Sowing the seed
Unwounded I bleed
Lord won't you show me the way
Christ is the cross that I bear
God is the will of my war
Faint are the voices I hear
Whispers of glory...
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Light Up The Sky
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Fast Car
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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.
Mountain Song
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
No Surprises
Radiohead
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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.
American Town
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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.
yeah, there is a hint that he is dying, but i guess it is more of a spiritual death.
i see it as a soldier who is rather victorious in the war, but defeated in his principles. he tried hard to reconcile war and faith, how he should kill to glorify his God, but at the end of the day, his guilt tells him that things should not be that way. glory is sarcastically used. "one for the glory and one for the souls that i've slain" begs the question whether being known and honored is worth the death of so many. half of him does enjoy the glory, but another half finds his deeds miserable.
oooh, first post... as if no one's commented on this yet? crazy. this song rocks. what i get from it is that this guy's been separated from the rest of his army, and he's dying in the cold. Sounds to me like he saying about how he prayed for the souls he took, and for glory, but didn't get any glory. and so he's sad :( love this song so much...I've listened to it constantly for the last few days.
I agree pretty much. But yea this song rocks! I think that he's been killied while Crusading. And now he's dying and praying for forgiveness for his sins, and he's wishing he could have know Glory.
This is a soldier out (alone maybe?) waiting to die in battle. He knows his death is out in that field "silently watching the rain carving the earth on my grave" and he thinks about his life and the souls that he killed. Amazing song. The music in the background sets the mood to what he is feeling.
"Glory" This song was originally meant as a small piece to complement the record. After a few rehearsals it turned into a very Baroque and moving piece. We envisioned a String Quartet to complement the arrangements and that just what we did. The final result for us was beautiful. "The paths of glory lead but to the grave."