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.
Life's so unfair, you thought
Then turned on your TV
Life's so unfair you sobbed
Then picked up the keys
You lock your castle door behind you
To go for a ride
Your shiny car roars as you think
Of what you've been denied
No one understands your mind no one ever tried
No one has a clue of what you are inside
And I lie
But I believe myself
And the truth hurts more than anything else
Drowning in self pity killing time
It helps me to write the words
To think about the grime
And if you piss me off
Please don't apologize
My anger drives conviction as I proclaim these silly lies
If you don't believe me
Just read between the lines
No one has a clue of what's behind these eyes
And I lie
Then turned on your TV
Life's so unfair you sobbed
Then picked up the keys
You lock your castle door behind you
To go for a ride
Your shiny car roars as you think
Of what you've been denied
No one understands your mind no one ever tried
No one has a clue of what you are inside
And I lie
But I believe myself
And the truth hurts more than anything else
Drowning in self pity killing time
It helps me to write the words
To think about the grime
And if you piss me off
Please don't apologize
My anger drives conviction as I proclaim these silly lies
If you don't believe me
Just read between the lines
No one has a clue of what's behind these eyes
And I lie
Lyrics submitted by punkmebabygal
Fiction Lyrics as written by Peter Douglas Newbury Dennis Steven Jagard
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Light Up The Sky
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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.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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.
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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.
I think it means that your life can seem so perfect ('you lock your castle door behind you to go for a ride, your shiny car roars...') to other people, or you can be well off, but it doesn't mean you can't have emotional pain. I think it's trying to say that material things can't make you happy, and that sadness isn't always controlled by outside situations, because often it's triggered more by inner feelings.