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.
Now Peter sat on the mountaintop
Northern wind blowin through his hair
Now Peter never took the time to stop
He just stood out there and stared
I said but Peter didn't care bout the air down there
He was lookin right at the sun
The sun said son don't ya come around here
And Peter then began to run
Hey
Now Peter he never cried too much
He just looked out toward the west
He was dreamin of a land that was way over there
And dreamin of what comes next
But Peter didn't care bout the air down there
He was lookin right out at the sun
And the sun said son come around here
So Peter started to run
He said ladandandandandandandanday (2x)
Now Peter started walkin down the mountain
Just runnin out toward the West
It was slippery like the water from a fountain
And Peter though that was best
Cause he slid down there to the town over there
And people just started to cry
But Peter didn't care about the air
And Peter was never shy
Ladanday (4x)
BRIDGE
Now he sang out loud to a unified crowd
Singing something bout he thought he was
But the crowd didn't care bout the air up there
And Peter wasn't nothin but nothin
But Peter didn't care he just looked over there
And the crowd was smilin back
He was singin to his heart and praying to his soul
That they would ask hime back
Ladandandandandandandanday (2x)
Now Peter
Was lookin round to the back
Mountainside slipped from under his feet
He didn't really care bout the air down there
He just looked out at the sun
The sun said son don't ya come around here
So Peter then began to run
He said ladandandandandanday (4x)
Northern wind blowin through his hair
Now Peter never took the time to stop
He just stood out there and stared
I said but Peter didn't care bout the air down there
He was lookin right at the sun
The sun said son don't ya come around here
And Peter then began to run
Hey
Now Peter he never cried too much
He just looked out toward the west
He was dreamin of a land that was way over there
And dreamin of what comes next
But Peter didn't care bout the air down there
He was lookin right out at the sun
And the sun said son come around here
So Peter started to run
He said ladandandandandandandanday (2x)
Now Peter started walkin down the mountain
Just runnin out toward the West
It was slippery like the water from a fountain
And Peter though that was best
Cause he slid down there to the town over there
And people just started to cry
But Peter didn't care about the air
And Peter was never shy
Ladanday (4x)
BRIDGE
Now he sang out loud to a unified crowd
Singing something bout he thought he was
But the crowd didn't care bout the air up there
And Peter wasn't nothin but nothin
But Peter didn't care he just looked over there
And the crowd was smilin back
He was singin to his heart and praying to his soul
That they would ask hime back
Ladandandandandandandanday (2x)
Now Peter
Was lookin round to the back
Mountainside slipped from under his feet
He didn't really care bout the air down there
He just looked out at the sun
The sun said son don't ya come around here
So Peter then began to run
He said ladandandandandanday (4x)
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@[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.
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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.
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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,
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Could sombody pease tell me what Ladanday is. WHEELS you seem to know alot about the band.
I know u didn't ask me but i always thought that Landanday was just a jazzy type filler they were making because it fits in the song and goes with the melody. i do wonder if it means more though. Anyways i like this song, everyone can relate to not careing about certian things and yet looking at other subjects with more attention.
This is a quote that is directly from Marc, I believe: "The word is a made up word, a cry for freedom really I guess. The song is about being who you are and not what others tell you to be. It is about standing up for what you believe in and praying that others will see what it is you believe in."
I'm not quite sure but i'd assume - this song is about a boy (Peter) and his struggle to grow up - you've got lines like - "but peter never took the time to look and stop" - i'd assume that means that you should appriciate your childhood while you've got it where in this song peter just wants to move on - "the sun" - i don't know who he/she is - keeps peter from growing up too quick - the sequel "revisted" is about how peter did grow up - and stop thinking too much on the future
marc said that this song was about his friend peter and he simply wanted to write a song about peter's open-mindedness and free spirit.
Peter stood there looking for love, looking for freedom, and that was freedom's call Ladanday ~Live version