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.
Watch out sister, watch out brother
Watch our children while they kill each other
With a gun they bought at Walmart discount stores
Welcome to the hallway metal detector just been installed, hey
Isn't cops and robbers gettin' to be a big bore?
Mary, Mary, quite contrary
Close your door now, it's much too scary
And you might see something you wish you hadn't seen
Out of sight, out of time
Out of patience, and I'm out of my mind
Governor, tell me what does it mean
Dance, children, dance to the beat
Want to be a hippy 'cause life was so sweet
Well, good morning, hate, yeah
Dance, children, dance to the beat
Want to rock and roll up and down the street
I've got a message
Oh yeah
Love is a good thing
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good thing
Love is a good thing
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good thing, yeah-yeah
Politicians on a mission
Bring 'em up, bring 'em down
For the good of the system
Well, we don't like the way you live your life
I got one thing I must express
We try our criminals in the press
Justice is a fading light
Mary, Mary, quite contrary
Close your door now, it's much too scary
And you might see something you wish you hadn't seen
Out of sight, out of time
Out of patience, and I'm out of my mind
Governor, tell me what does it mean
Dance, children, dance to the beat
Want to be a hippy 'cause life was so sweet
Well, good morning, hate, yeah
Dance, children, dance to the beat
Want to rock and roll up and down the street
I've got a message
Oh yeah
Love is a good thing
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good thing
Love is a good thing
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good thing
Love is a good thing
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good thing
Love is a good thing
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good, love is a good
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Watch our children while they kill each other
With a gun they bought at Walmart discount stores
Welcome to the hallway metal detector just been installed, hey
Isn't cops and robbers gettin' to be a big bore?
Mary, Mary, quite contrary
Close your door now, it's much too scary
And you might see something you wish you hadn't seen
Out of sight, out of time
Out of patience, and I'm out of my mind
Governor, tell me what does it mean
Dance, children, dance to the beat
Want to be a hippy 'cause life was so sweet
Well, good morning, hate, yeah
Dance, children, dance to the beat
Want to rock and roll up and down the street
I've got a message
Oh yeah
Love is a good thing
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good thing
Love is a good thing
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good thing, yeah-yeah
Politicians on a mission
Bring 'em up, bring 'em down
For the good of the system
Well, we don't like the way you live your life
I got one thing I must express
We try our criminals in the press
Justice is a fading light
Mary, Mary, quite contrary
Close your door now, it's much too scary
And you might see something you wish you hadn't seen
Out of sight, out of time
Out of patience, and I'm out of my mind
Governor, tell me what does it mean
Dance, children, dance to the beat
Want to be a hippy 'cause life was so sweet
Well, good morning, hate, yeah
Dance, children, dance to the beat
Want to rock and roll up and down the street
I've got a message
Oh yeah
Love is a good thing
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good thing
Love is a good thing
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good thing
Love is a good thing
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good thing
Love is a good thing
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good, love is a good
Love is a good, love is a good
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Love Is a Good Thing Lyrics as written by Sheryl Crow Charles Wadham
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
i think that this song is sheryl trying to say that people need to hate less and love more. also it's talking about how messed up society is in general.
whatever it means, it's an awesome song.
It seems like Sheryl's listing the social changes she had been witnessing, and offering up love as a solution.
The line "Mary, Mary, quite contrary/ Close the door now/ It's much too scary," symbolizes the world's willingness to try and ignore pressing issues like violence in schools and an unjust court system. The world would rather close the door than face the "much too scary" problems facing them.