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.
That young boy without a name anywhere I'd know his face.
In this city the kid's my favorite.
I've seen him. I've seen him. I see him every day.
Seen him run outside looking for a place to hide from his father,
the kid half naked and said to myself "Oh, what's the matter here?"
I'm tired of the excuses everbody uses, "He's their kid, I stay out of it."
But who gave you the right to do this?
We live on Morgan Street, just ten feet between.
And his mother, I never see her, but her screams and cussing, I hear them every day.
Threats like: "If you don't mind I will beat on your behind. Slap you, slap you silly."
Made me say, "Oh, what's the matter here?"
I'm tired of the excuses everybody uses, "He's your kid. Do as you see fit."
But get this through that I don't approve of what you did to your own flesh and blood.
I have heard the excuses everybody uses, "He's your kid. Do as you see fit."
But get this through that I don't approve of what you did to your own flesh and blood.
"If you don't sit in your chair straight
I'll take this belt from around my waist
and don't you think that I won't use it!"
Answer me and take your time,
what could be the awful crime
he could do at so young an age?
If I'm the only witness to your madness offer me some words to balance out what I see and what I hear.
All these cold and rude things that you do I suppose you do because he belongs to you.
And instead of love, and the feel of warmth you've given him these cuts and sores that don't heal with time or with age.
And I want to say, I want to say, "What's the matter here?"
But I don't dare say "What's the matter, here?"
But I don't dare say...
In this city the kid's my favorite.
I've seen him. I've seen him. I see him every day.
Seen him run outside looking for a place to hide from his father,
the kid half naked and said to myself "Oh, what's the matter here?"
I'm tired of the excuses everbody uses, "He's their kid, I stay out of it."
But who gave you the right to do this?
We live on Morgan Street, just ten feet between.
And his mother, I never see her, but her screams and cussing, I hear them every day.
Threats like: "If you don't mind I will beat on your behind. Slap you, slap you silly."
Made me say, "Oh, what's the matter here?"
I'm tired of the excuses everybody uses, "He's your kid. Do as you see fit."
But get this through that I don't approve of what you did to your own flesh and blood.
I have heard the excuses everybody uses, "He's your kid. Do as you see fit."
But get this through that I don't approve of what you did to your own flesh and blood.
"If you don't sit in your chair straight
I'll take this belt from around my waist
and don't you think that I won't use it!"
Answer me and take your time,
what could be the awful crime
he could do at so young an age?
If I'm the only witness to your madness offer me some words to balance out what I see and what I hear.
All these cold and rude things that you do I suppose you do because he belongs to you.
And instead of love, and the feel of warmth you've given him these cuts and sores that don't heal with time or with age.
And I want to say, I want to say, "What's the matter here?"
But I don't dare say "What's the matter, here?"
But I don't dare say...
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This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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Plastic Bag
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
These are the CORRECT lyrics to a great son about whether or not to turn a blind eye to child abuse. A moving song with a great melody. Her singing in the last verse is very powerful:
That young boy without a name anywhere I'd know his face. In this city the kid's my favour I've seen him. I've seen him, I see him every day. Seen him run outside looking for a place to hide from his father, the kid half naked and said to myself "Oh, what's the matter here?" I'm tired of the excuses everbody uses, he's their kid I stay out of it, but who gave you the right to do this?
We live on Morgan Street; just ten feet between and his mother, I never see her, but her screams and cussing, I hear them every day. Threats like: "If you don't mind I will beat on your behind," "Slap you, slap you silly." made me say, "Oh, what's the matter here?"
I'm tired of the excuses everybody uses, he's your kid, do as you see fit, but get this through that I don't approve of what you did to your own flesh and blood.
I have heard the excuses everybody uses, he's your kid, do as you see fit, but get this through that I don't approve of what you did to your own flesh and blood.
"If you don't sit in your chair straight I'll take this belt from around my waist and don't you think that I won't use it!"
Answer me and take your time, what could be the awful crime he could do at so young an age? If I'm the only witness to your madness offer me some words to balance out what I see and what I hear. All these cold and rude things that you do I suppose you do BECAUSE he belongs to you and instead of love, and the feel of warmth you've given him these cuts and sores that don't heal with time or with age.
...and I want to say now, I want to say "What's the Matter here?" But I don't dare say "Whats the Matter, here?" But I don't dare say...