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.
My defenses
Become fences
I'm stumbling
I change my face
And you think I'm fake-up
Wait around till I take off my makeup
Here we go again
I need another one
Her name is
She looks through me
Says I'm the only one
I've met a christian in christian sands, a devil in Helsinki
I've met a christian in christian sands, a devil in Helsinki
Is it getting better?
Wrote her a letter, asking questions
Maybe some deceptions
I mean we'll take it slow
I really don't know
When you talk, you make me cringe
Silver me to the messenger
Let her go don't question her
I've met a christian in christian sands, a devil in Helsinki
I've met a christian in christian sands, a devil in Helsinki
You and me, what does that mean?
Always, what does that mean?
Forever, what does that mean?
It means we'll manage
I'll master your language and in the meantime I'll create my own
By my own
Become fences
I'm stumbling
I change my face
And you think I'm fake-up
Wait around till I take off my makeup
Here we go again
I need another one
Her name is
She looks through me
Says I'm the only one
I've met a christian in christian sands, a devil in Helsinki
I've met a christian in christian sands, a devil in Helsinki
Is it getting better?
Wrote her a letter, asking questions
Maybe some deceptions
I mean we'll take it slow
I really don't know
When you talk, you make me cringe
Silver me to the messenger
Let her go don't question her
I've met a christian in christian sands, a devil in Helsinki
I've met a christian in christian sands, a devil in Helsinki
You and me, what does that mean?
Always, what does that mean?
Forever, what does that mean?
It means we'll manage
I'll master your language and in the meantime I'll create my own
By my own
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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this video is great...
Apart from being one of the best Tricky songs, it's also just a very good breakdown of a relationship. It's about learning to communicate. I'm not quite sure what the chorus is about, and it's possibly means nothing.
It's about him seeing a Scandinavian woman, him attempting to speak her language etc, her seeing different sides to him as he susses her out.
I think it's just about being wary of people in the beginning of relationships. He met a christian, he met a devil, he met another one (he doesn't even give her a name) . . .
note that christiansands (kristiansand) is a city in norway. and helsinki of course is in finland... so it's kind of a double echo, met a christian in christiansands, the devil in HELLsinki... both in scandinavia, both vaguely religious-sounding... you can spin out a variety of meanings from that, which is part of what makes good lyrics good. but, anyway that's what those words are, christiansands is a place name. took me like 5 or 10 years to figure that out