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.
A certain shade of green
Tell me, is that what you need?
All signs around say, "Move ahead"
Could someone please explain to me
You're ever present lack of speed?
Are your muscles bound by ropes
Or do crutches cloud your day?
My sources say, "The road is clear
And street signs point the way"
Are you gonna stand around 'til 2012 A.D?
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
Would a written invitation
Signed, "Choose now or lose it all"
Sedate your hesitation
Or inflame and make you stall?
You've been raised in limitation
But that glove never fit quite right
The time has passed for hand-me-downs
Choose a new, please evolve
Take flight
Are you gonna stand around 'til 2012 a.d?
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
(Talk that thing)
Green?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin' for?
Waitin' for?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
Are you gonna stand around till 2012 A.D?
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
What are you waitin' for?
Tell me, is that what you need?
All signs around say, "Move ahead"
Could someone please explain to me
You're ever present lack of speed?
Are your muscles bound by ropes
Or do crutches cloud your day?
My sources say, "The road is clear
And street signs point the way"
Are you gonna stand around 'til 2012 A.D?
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
Would a written invitation
Signed, "Choose now or lose it all"
Sedate your hesitation
Or inflame and make you stall?
You've been raised in limitation
But that glove never fit quite right
The time has passed for hand-me-downs
Choose a new, please evolve
Take flight
Are you gonna stand around 'til 2012 a.d?
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
(Talk that thing)
Green?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin'?
What are you waitin' for?
What are you waitin' for?
Waitin' for?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
Are you gonna stand around till 2012 A.D?
What are you waitin' for
A certain shade of green?
I think I grew a gray watchin' you procrastinate
What are you waitin' for?
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
The phrase "a certain shade of green" brings to my mind a philosophical problem.
"The Missing Shade of Blue is an example introduced by the Scottish philosopher David Hume to show that it is at least conceivable that the mind can generate an idea without first being exposed to the relevant sensory experience."
Say you had seen all but one shade of blue (or green) could you imagine it? The idea is that the shade of the colour can be imagined because we have a concept of light and dark and of blue so a mixture of those concepts gives us all the shades their can be. Have you ever seen a shade of Green and though "Oh my God thats completely new"? Even if you had never seen it before it would be a lighter or a darker green, a concept you are already familiar with.
I always felt that the song was saying, essentially, don't wait for that colour to turn up to complete you repetoire of shades. If you can imagine it then you can live and embrace it and move with it. Waiting for the perfect love, life or idea is just idle procratination if you want something MAKE it YOURSELF. What are you waiting for?
Amazing interpretation! I can totally relate to it.<br /> <br /> Life is short. This song is an invitation to sign out from SM and get a life.