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.
Sally dances on the floor
She says that she can't do it anymore
She walks down St. Marks Place
And eats natural food at my place
Now Sally can't dance no more
she can't get it off of the floor
Sally can't dance no more
Sally, she can't dance no more
Sally is losing her face
She lives on St. Marks Place
In a rent-controlled apartment, eighty dollars a month
She has lots of fun, she has lots of fun
But, Sally can't dance no more
Oh Sally she can't dance no more
She went and carried on and can't get off of the floor
Now Sally, oh she can't dance no more
She was the first girl in the neighborhood
To wear tied-dyed pants, like she should
She was the first girl that I've ever seen
That had flowers painted on her jeans
Now she wears a sword, like Napoleon
And she kills the boys and acts like a son
Sally can't dance no more
Sally can't dance no more
Sally can't dance no more
Sally, hey she can't dance no more
Sally can't dance
Sally can't dance
She knew all the really right people
She went to Les Jardins
She danced with Picasso's illegitimate mistress
and wore Kenneth Lane jewels, really hey, it's trash, but
Sally, can't dance no more, yeah
Sally, she can't dance no more, you tell 'em about it
Sally can't get herself off the floor
Hey, Sally, girl, she can't dance no more
Sally can't dance
Sally can't dance
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
She says that she can't do it anymore
She walks down St. Marks Place
And eats natural food at my place
Now Sally can't dance no more
she can't get it off of the floor
Sally can't dance no more
Sally, she can't dance no more
Sally is losing her face
She lives on St. Marks Place
In a rent-controlled apartment, eighty dollars a month
She has lots of fun, she has lots of fun
But, Sally can't dance no more
Oh Sally she can't dance no more
She went and carried on and can't get off of the floor
Now Sally, oh she can't dance no more
She was the first girl in the neighborhood
To wear tied-dyed pants, like she should
She was the first girl that I've ever seen
That had flowers painted on her jeans
Now she wears a sword, like Napoleon
And she kills the boys and acts like a son
Sally can't dance no more
Sally can't dance no more
Sally can't dance no more
Sally, hey she can't dance no more
Sally can't dance
Sally can't dance
She knew all the really right people
She went to Les Jardins
She danced with Picasso's illegitimate mistress
and wore Kenneth Lane jewels, really hey, it's trash, but
Sally, can't dance no more, yeah
Sally, she can't dance no more, you tell 'em about it
Sally can't get herself off the floor
Hey, Sally, girl, she can't dance no more
Sally can't dance
Sally can't dance
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
(Sally can't dance, Sally can't dance)
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Sally Can't Dance Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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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.
Just A Little Lovin'
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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/
It’s allegedly about the late Edie Sedgwick who was a “big model” that used to “ball folk singers” (Bob Dylan), though some suggest Nico is another candidate. Yet since Sedgwick was dead from a drug overdose when the song was penned, and certainly couldn’t dance no more, it’s likely to be about her. One of Reed’s nastiest songs, yet a classic nonetheless. It should be noted that the single version removes any references to drug addiction, rape and murder, meaning most listeners will simply presume the song is about a chick that dances badly. Reed’s ‘Femme Fatale’ is also supposedly about Sedgwick.
Party animal?
I wouldn't necessarily say it's "about" Edie, but definitely based loosely on her and probably a few others. I cant for the life of me figure where the name Sally came from though...
@dullife My take on the name Sally is that Lou may have been referring to Sally Rand, the famous burlesque ostrich feather dancer, the star of the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. She was arrested and (couldn't "dance no more") the Fair began losing money. Her supporters got her out of prison and back up on the stage.
For me this song is about Edie, she used to dance and she did it really well, but she lost her self into so many drugs. She was the first girl in everything, was a boomb, and she learn how to distrust some man, cause she was "raped" by his dad, altought she trust Andy too much. She was a big model, well she was, the "it" girl, and she had a kind of affair with Dylan, altought Dylan hadn't admit it, Lou is telling us in some way. She knew all the really right people cause she was someone, people wanted to be by her side cause she had some kind of light inside her, but she has lost everything.
I think that's what Lou's saying. I'm sorry Edie, you used to dance like a goddess, and be a goddess, but darling you can't dance forever.