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.
Walking on high hopes
Living on tight ropes
Running with your feet off the ground
It used to be magic
But now its only getting you down
I miss the sunshine
That was a good friend of mine
Can't stand it as my life goes by
Waiting for something
But nothing's gonna happen tonight
Walking down a one way road
And you still don't know which way to turn
Just hold on
Just hold on
When you're feeling like you can't go on
Just hold on
Just hold on
Riding life's rollercoaster
You're making the most of
What you can and what you can't have
Hoping for someone
To show you to another pain
Walking down a one way road
And you still don't know which way to turn
Just hold on
Just hold on
When you're feeling like you can't go on
Just hold on
Just hold on
When you think you can't make it
Just hold on
Just hold on
Just hold on
Just hold on
When you're feeling like you can't go on
Just hold on til end
Living on tight ropes
Running with your feet off the ground
It used to be magic
But now its only getting you down
I miss the sunshine
That was a good friend of mine
Can't stand it as my life goes by
Waiting for something
But nothing's gonna happen tonight
Walking down a one way road
And you still don't know which way to turn
Just hold on
Just hold on
When you're feeling like you can't go on
Just hold on
Just hold on
Riding life's rollercoaster
You're making the most of
What you can and what you can't have
Hoping for someone
To show you to another pain
Walking down a one way road
And you still don't know which way to turn
Just hold on
Just hold on
When you're feeling like you can't go on
Just hold on
Just hold on
When you think you can't make it
Just hold on
Just hold on
Just hold on
Just hold on
When you're feeling like you can't go on
Just hold on til end
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"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,
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 the meaning is pretty obvious- it's about not giving up on your hopes, your dreams- going with the flow and well, just holding on no matter what life throws at you! It's such an uplifting feel good song I LOVE it!
walking on high hopes living on tight ropes running with your feet off the ground
Love those lyrics- sometimes everything gets too much and it's easy to feel like you have no control over things and these lyrics reflect that feeling so well! Also the reference to a one way street- that feeling of not knowing what to do, feeling lost in yourself and confused.
I think people can relate to this song in all sorts of ways- waiting for something to happen (be it an event in life, a new relationship, anything!), being excited about it at first but as time goes by losing faith etc. And Toploader are saying not to give up no matter how down you get!