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.
When things just aren't going your way
Like a problem hair you pluck or shave?
But shaving got to be such a bore
And you deserve so much more
And happiness is just a purchase away
[Chorus:]
Angelina it'll fix your hunchback
Angelina it'll help your time pass
Angelina here's a forcast
Angelina it's science we never laugh
Here's something that is automatic
It's wax ecstatic
When life is nothing less than tragic
It's wax ecstatic
When life has lost all it's magic
It's wax ecstatic
When life can't promise the fantastic
It's wax ecstatic
Throw all your troubles away
You'll nothing left that you want to save
With this circus you'll need nothing more
And all your troubles walk out the door
And it's all just a phone call away
[Chorus]
Like a problem hair you pluck or shave?
But shaving got to be such a bore
And you deserve so much more
And happiness is just a purchase away
[Chorus:]
Angelina it'll fix your hunchback
Angelina it'll help your time pass
Angelina here's a forcast
Angelina it's science we never laugh
Here's something that is automatic
It's wax ecstatic
When life is nothing less than tragic
It's wax ecstatic
When life has lost all it's magic
It's wax ecstatic
When life can't promise the fantastic
It's wax ecstatic
Throw all your troubles away
You'll nothing left that you want to save
With this circus you'll need nothing more
And all your troubles walk out the door
And it's all just a phone call away
[Chorus]
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina) Lyrics as written by Mark P Dombroski Joe Mazzola
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Alright, lemme take a crack at this - I admit that I'm using the video partially for interpretation, and that's not ever a good idea, because the writer of the lyrics is not necessarily the one that comes up with the concept for the video. Nevertheless, I'll take a shot.
Lines 1-5: Sometimes things aren't great, but working to make them better (like shaving or plucking that hair) is a pain, you deserve to just have your problems stop instantly, don't you? The answer is right here.
Lines 6-9: This will solve all your problems - we're not kidding.
Lines 10-17: I'm interpreting 'It's something that is automatic' as being the right number of syllables for the line with the right ending, but actually meaning 'it's something that offers instant gratification'. In that context, these lines reiterate that this is something that will take care of your problems instantly. You will wax ecstatic.
Lines 18-22: Quite simply, this product will get rid of all your troubles. This is where there's a bit of a judgment call for me. "A phone call away" sounds like a TV ad, like it's about mass marketing, and thus pharmaceuticals seem like the likely target of the song. However, you COULD be calling up your 'dealer'. Looking at the video, it's hard to decide which it is. But given the 'commercial' nature of the parts with Vinny displaying the bottle, and the fact that he looks more like an old-school medicine show guy on the street (with the special case, collecting money) rather than a typical 'dealer', I'm sticking with the 'pharmaceuticals' idea, and assuming that the 'sold on the street' bits were to link the idea of feel-better pharmaceuticals to drug dealers.
The video seemed to make that all pretty clear, with Angelina admiring the roller derby girls, but unable to skate at all, taking the drug, watching, excited, thinking she could do it, and then spitting out the drug as she's knocked down again and again. Seems to me like the symbolism there was of her realization that her drug-inspired dreams of skating were no substitute for the reality of it.
That's my 2 cents anyway - short version:
Yes, the song is about mind-affecting pharmaceuticals.