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.
It's easy sometimes when you just coast along
But like it or not something always seems to go wrong
Sometimes people build you up just so they can knock you down
Sometimes they will have you there 'cause they need someone around
Perhaps you'll receive invitations for tea
Perhaps you'll laugh and make them all smile
Or maybe you'll join them 'cause it had to be
Perhaps you'll forget you forgot for awhile
Birds of a feather are flocking outside
Like whippets they dance in a curly-queue dance
Of pulses and ringing and campfire chants
Of ritual drumming although at first glance
You thought you could run but you won't take a chance
It's not an experience if they can't bring someone along
They hang on emotions they bottle inside
They peck at the ground
And strut out of stride
But like it or not something always seems to go wrong
Sometimes people build you up just so they can knock you down
Sometimes they will have you there 'cause they need someone around
Perhaps you'll receive invitations for tea
Perhaps you'll laugh and make them all smile
Or maybe you'll join them 'cause it had to be
Perhaps you'll forget you forgot for awhile
Birds of a feather are flocking outside
Like whippets they dance in a curly-queue dance
Of pulses and ringing and campfire chants
Of ritual drumming although at first glance
You thought you could run but you won't take a chance
It's not an experience if they can't bring someone along
They hang on emotions they bottle inside
They peck at the ground
And strut out of stride
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To me this song is about the phans at a show. There are some other meanings I can derive but I just picture being there all those times and it's a very fitting description of a solid Phish experience.
I think that this song is about all of the "phollowers"... The fans that came late in the game that were never really interested in Phish as a band but as an experience. I think thais song is to all of the "abercrombie kids" that swallowed the Phish lots in the later years. Love Phish... I hate this song...always have ... always will.
sweet fucking song!
the best version is the one from 7-10-99 (aka live phish 08). sweetest solo on the planet (with the exception of "are you experienced?") peace
there are not enough posts on songmeanings explaining what the phish songs are about...what does this one mean? it seems to be about fitting in our something, but i'm not sure...
this is definately about fitting in, and doing things you wouldnt do normally, but you do it cause u want to make people laugh and to fit in
this song was in dawson's creek! i don't remember which episode, but it was pretty early on in the show, i think the first season
its about a bird that's eyes went cross because it desperately couldn't handle the fact that it saw itself in a mirror...only to find that it was blackbird trying to be amongst a flock of seagulls...no, i'm not trying to say that the nag champa should be in a seperate bag from the vanilla
This song is saying that people try to make you fit in by keeping you around for a specific purpose, to entertain them or to have company. "It's not an experience if they can't bring someone along They hang on emotions they bottle inside They peck at the ground And strut out of stride" is pointing out the ridiculousness of it all..the fact that people need other people around to validate their good time. At the same time, it's something we all do and is probably human nature.
So true. Well said pheelinphine.