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.
I've got to get to you first
Before they do
It's just a question of time
Before they lay their hands on you
And make you just like the rest
I've got to get to you first
It's just a question of time
Well, now you're only fifteen
And you look good
I'll take you under my wing
Somebody should
They've persuasive ways
And you'll believe what they say
It's just a question of time
And it's running out for you
It won't be long until you'll do
Exactly what they want you to
I can see them now
Hanging around
To mess you up
To strip you down
And have their fun
With my little one
It's just a question of time
And it's running out for you
It won't be long until you'll do
Exactly what they want you to
It won't be long until you'll do
Exactly what they want you to
Sometimes I don't blame them
For wanting you
You look good
They need something to do
Until I look at you
And then I condemn them
I know my kind
What goes on in our minds
It's just a question of time
It's just a question of time
It's just a question of time (it should be better)
It's just a question of time (it should be better with you)
It's just a question of time (it should be better)
It's just a question of time (it should be better with you)
It's just a question of time (it should be better)
It's just a question of time (it should be better with you)
It's just a question of time
Before they do
It's just a question of time
Before they lay their hands on you
And make you just like the rest
I've got to get to you first
It's just a question of time
Well, now you're only fifteen
And you look good
I'll take you under my wing
Somebody should
They've persuasive ways
And you'll believe what they say
It's just a question of time
And it's running out for you
It won't be long until you'll do
Exactly what they want you to
I can see them now
Hanging around
To mess you up
To strip you down
And have their fun
With my little one
It's just a question of time
And it's running out for you
It won't be long until you'll do
Exactly what they want you to
It won't be long until you'll do
Exactly what they want you to
Sometimes I don't blame them
For wanting you
You look good
They need something to do
Until I look at you
And then I condemn them
I know my kind
What goes on in our minds
It's just a question of time
It's just a question of time
It's just a question of time (it should be better)
It's just a question of time (it should be better with you)
It's just a question of time (it should be better)
It's just a question of time (it should be better with you)
It's just a question of time (it should be better)
It's just a question of time (it should be better with you)
It's just a question of time
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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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
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
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,
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Shit, you guys are all really dumb. Only Killee has made an intelligent interpretation so far.
The meaning is simple. The narrator wants to save an innocent person (or many) from becoming cheap and cheesy, just like the majority of the human population ("the rest").