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.
Some say, death is the easy way
And I think they're right
'Cause nights tick, by like a long week
Except when you stop by
And I know that tryin' gets nothing done
And I see you're about dry
'Cause nothin' gets you high
You're poor the day you die
And alcohol it only makes you tired
But seein' you feels good
And it's always understood
That anything much sweeter
Would make me die
And I think they're right
'Cause nights tick, by like a long week
Except when you stop by
And I know that tryin' gets nothing done
And I see you're about dry
'Cause nothin' gets you high
You're poor the day you die
And alcohol it only makes you tired
But seein' you feels good
And it's always understood
That anything much sweeter
Would make me die
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
One of the best, simplest, most powerful evocations of romantic longing. Nights tick by like a long week except when you stop by. Reminds one of Jeff Buckley's "Lover, You Should Have Come Over."
Listen for the whispers in the background between 3:08 and 3:38.
Ridiculously good song. To me, it's about knowing a person that makes you feel so alive, that nothing else on this earth compares. There's no sense in chasing things like money, worldy possessions, alcohol, etc., because none of them will make you feel the way that this person makes you feel. It's almost pointless to live any longer because anything else you discover pales in comparison.
A dark love song...beautiful...I agree with terrydehere that he is speaking of nothing comparing to the feeling of being in love.
I think it could actually be a depressing song...
Its as if he can't get the girl. She comes over and is friends with him, but nothing more. Still, he loves her and nothing compares to the love he has. Nothing can really fulfill him but her, but he can't have her. He knows can't get her and death seems easier than having to live without her.
Just kinda a different take...
Okay... what is the name of this song? iTunes and the MMJ website has it listed as: "Death Is My Sleezy Pay". Is that right or is it "Death Is the Easy Way"? I always thought it was the later until I noticed it on iTunes. Anyone have any idea?
i cant believe no one's said anything about drugs/addiction yet. this is just my interpretation, but i could be wrong. but i think it's saying death is the easy way cause it's easier than living with an addiction cause you're not really living if something controls your life, ex: drugs. all you're thinking about is when you'll get it next and time goes slowly when you dont have it but when you get it everything's okay again. and there's no point in trying cause you can't stop. and "nothing gets you high, you're poor the day you die" cause nothing will ever be as good as the drug and thats all you'll have til you die cause you spent or lost everything you had on the drug you love. even though you wish you could be happy some other way still "seeing you feels good....anything much sweeter would make me die" i think it's saying you're pushing the limit as far as possible without killing yourself, so you're just inside the line of going too far but you're damn close.
I've only recently started listening to My Morning Jacket, after seeing that episode of American Dad (Season 5, Episode 7 "My Morning Straightjacket" very funny). As I listened to their studio albums chronologically this was the first song that really grabbed my attention, I think it may be the best on the album.
Now, as for the meaning I believe 'girlfromthenorthcountry' is right, my first thought after reading the lyrics was hopeless addiction. However, 'comebakatz' has a point..."'cause nights tick by like a long week, except when you stop by" would seem to imply romantic feelings about this person (presumably a girl). Basically, what I gather from this song is a guy loves a girl who's addicted to drugs, but he still cares for her despite her self-destructive tendencies (drug use, and alcoholism when drugs aren't available). As for death being the easy way I cannot be certain if he means for himself (most likely due to the lack of reciprocity), or for her (as a means to end her addiction) or quite possibly for the both of them (to alleviate their suffering).
This is a dark love song about how nothing can be better than love. Despite being totally in love with the girl, the singer can't get her. So essentially it becomes easier to die than to be denied of the sweetest thing.