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.
You always say that I have multiple personalities
I bounce somewhere between dreams and reality
So where'd you dig up the audacity to ask me
How we've all been doing
Since you broke our hearts
(well so far)
Number 5 just cries a river a minute
7 wants to tie you up and drown you in it
Yeah, 14 just wants to say so long, bygones
32 wants to do things to you that'll make you blush
10 wants to key the El Camino that you love so much
And there ain't nobody that wants to mess with 23
Oh, lucky 4 you tonight I'm just me
I guess this party's more than your new Barbie bargained for
She's got you by the sleeve slowly easing towards the door
She's probably right, you should be movin' on
Don't know how long we can behave
Better have the valet get your car
(cause you know how women are)
Number 5 just cries a river a minute
7 wants to tie you up and drown you in it
Yeah, 14 just wants to say so long, bygones
32 wants to do things to you that'll make you blush
10 wants to key the El Camino that you love so much
And there ain't nobody that wants to mess with 23
Oh, lucky 4 you tonight I'm just me
Forgiveness is the key
According to my shrink
But it's not up just up to me
(I don't know girls, what d'ya think?)
Number 5 just cries a river a minute
7 wants to tie you up and drown you in it
Yeah, 14 just wants to say so long, bygones
32 wants to do things to you that'll make you blush
10 wants to key the El Camino that you love so much
And there ain't nobody that wants to mess with 23
Oh, lucky 4 you tonight I'm just me
I bounce somewhere between dreams and reality
So where'd you dig up the audacity to ask me
How we've all been doing
Since you broke our hearts
(well so far)
Number 5 just cries a river a minute
7 wants to tie you up and drown you in it
Yeah, 14 just wants to say so long, bygones
32 wants to do things to you that'll make you blush
10 wants to key the El Camino that you love so much
And there ain't nobody that wants to mess with 23
Oh, lucky 4 you tonight I'm just me
I guess this party's more than your new Barbie bargained for
She's got you by the sleeve slowly easing towards the door
She's probably right, you should be movin' on
Don't know how long we can behave
Better have the valet get your car
(cause you know how women are)
Number 5 just cries a river a minute
7 wants to tie you up and drown you in it
Yeah, 14 just wants to say so long, bygones
32 wants to do things to you that'll make you blush
10 wants to key the El Camino that you love so much
And there ain't nobody that wants to mess with 23
Oh, lucky 4 you tonight I'm just me
Forgiveness is the key
According to my shrink
But it's not up just up to me
(I don't know girls, what d'ya think?)
Number 5 just cries a river a minute
7 wants to tie you up and drown you in it
Yeah, 14 just wants to say so long, bygones
32 wants to do things to you that'll make you blush
10 wants to key the El Camino that you love so much
And there ain't nobody that wants to mess with 23
Oh, lucky 4 you tonight I'm just me
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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.
Gentle Hour
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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,
When We Were Young
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Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
No Surprises
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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.
man, why has no one commented? this is a great song, excellent song to blare in the car when you're upset at a guy. and a very creative idea for a song, too. i love it!
» So where'd you dig up the odacity to ask me «
"audacity". lol.
I lvoe this song! It's so fun! And it's just plain funny.
love this song. i love the second verse the most: I guess this party's more than your new Barbie bargained for She's got you by the sleeve slowly easing towards the door She's probably right, you should be movin' on Don't know how long we can behave Better have the valet get your car (cause you know how women are)
i mean i can just see all his ex's at that party and some bimbo pullling on his sleeve to leave cuz shes scared. i love the part the most.
Don't know how long we can behave Better have the valet get your car (cause you know how women are)
It's about a woman with multiple personalities and what these personalities do after she gets dumped by an ex-boyfriend.