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.
From the window of your rented limousine
I saw your pretty blue eyes
One day soon you're gonna reach sixteen
Painted lady in the city of lies
Oh, do you know my name?
Do I look the same?
You know I'm the one you want, babe
I must be the one you need, yeah
Clutching pages from your teenage dream
In the lobby of the Hotel Paradise
Through the circus of the LA queens
How fast your learn the downhill side
Oh, how you like my face?
Still don't know your name
You know I'm the one you want, babe
Oh yes, I must be the one you need, yeah
Oh, you got me feeling
Just a bit, just a bit
Lips like cherries and the brow of a queen
Come on, flash it in my eyes
Said you dug me since you were thirteen
Then you giggle as you heave and sigh
Oh, do you know my name?
Do I look the same?
Baby I gotta tell you, I'm the one you want
And everybody know I'm the one you need, yeah
Oh, give it to me, come on now
Hours, hours, and the moments in between
Oh, baby, I couldn't count the times
The fun of comin', oh the pain in leavin'
Baby, dry those silver eyes
Oh, do you know my name?
Do I look the same?
You know I'm the one you want
Oh yes, I'm the one you need
Oh, that's right, oh, yes that's right
Oh, that's right, that's right, that's right
Oh yeah, that's right
I saw your pretty blue eyes
One day soon you're gonna reach sixteen
Painted lady in the city of lies
Oh, do you know my name?
Do I look the same?
You know I'm the one you want, babe
I must be the one you need, yeah
Clutching pages from your teenage dream
In the lobby of the Hotel Paradise
Through the circus of the LA queens
How fast your learn the downhill side
Oh, how you like my face?
Still don't know your name
You know I'm the one you want, babe
Oh yes, I must be the one you need, yeah
Oh, you got me feeling
Just a bit, just a bit
Lips like cherries and the brow of a queen
Come on, flash it in my eyes
Said you dug me since you were thirteen
Then you giggle as you heave and sigh
Oh, do you know my name?
Do I look the same?
Baby I gotta tell you, I'm the one you want
And everybody know I'm the one you need, yeah
Oh, give it to me, come on now
Hours, hours, and the moments in between
Oh, baby, I couldn't count the times
The fun of comin', oh the pain in leavin'
Baby, dry those silver eyes
Oh, do you know my name?
Do I look the same?
You know I'm the one you want
Oh yes, I'm the one you need
Oh, that's right, oh, yes that's right
Oh, that's right, that's right, that's right
Oh yeah, that's right
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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.
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Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
okay once again.. song = not about heroin
it was written by plant about female groupies.
Sounds like groupies or even street whores-- "painted ladies". Personally, I think Robert Plant is bi so "L.A. queens" might be about gay guys or trannies. Other than that, the only thing certain is they're young and he's mocking them, and all the while he's banging them:
"Oh, baby, I couldn't count the times the fun of comin', oh the pain in leavin', Baby, dry those silver eyes "
"Do you know my name, do I look the same"-- it sounds like that's the groupie talking and he's mocking their desperation.
Zep is kind of gross, huh? I love their music but that all sounds so sleazy and pitiful...
-10
this is sort of the same subject matter as "what is and what should never be". seems like he had a thing for the groupie teen chicks that must have always been around him, but based on the lyrics of these songs, must have kept that thing as a fantasy and not let it actually happen.
From what I've read about Jimmy Page, that last sentence is probably not accurate...
What do you mean, plunketts?
Ever heard of Lori Maddox, mnkyonastick? But Plant wrote this song. I reallylike this song, it's a great way to end the album.
Ever heard of Lori Maddox, mnkyonastick? But Plant wrote this song. I reallylike this song, it's a great way to end the album.
This song is about how when Robert thinks back about all of the YOUNG groupies that he met, how much he felt sorry for them."How fast you learn the downhill slide" I read it somewhere
Plunketts is right if he means that the members of Zeppelin were sex animals. Apparently they would exploit their groupies to the absolute max. Groupies have told of how Jimmy Page would often make them stick octupi in their vaginas.
Anyway, to the song, this is my favourite Zeppelin song at the moment. Its one of the few Zeppelin songs with real lyrical depth, though it might not be apparent when you read the lyrics off the page like this.
To me, the song is either about the plight of groupies in general or it is about one in particular.