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.
Next Thursday you're invited to watch Rising Tide's live coverage of a gala tribute in salute to Ronald Reagan. Host Haley Barbour joins special guest Lady Margaret Thatcher in celebrating the former president's 83rd birthday. Tickets are 1000 Dollars a plate but you can see the event free on GOP TV.
Images of perfection, suntan and napalm
Grenada - Haiti - Poland - Nicaragua
Who shall we choose for our morality
I'm thinking right now of Hollywood tragedy
Big Mac, smack, phoenix r, please smile y'all
Cuba, Mexico can't cauterise our discipline
Your idols speak so much of the abyss
Yet your morals only run as deep as the surface
Cool - groovy - morning - fine
Tipper Gore was a friend of mine
I love a free country
The stars and stripes and an apple for mommy
(Conservatives say) "There ain't no black in the Union Jack"
(Democrats say) "There ain't enough white in the Stars and Stripes"
Compton - Harlem - a pimp fucked a priest
The white man has just found a new moral saviour
Vital stats - how white was their skin
Unimportant - just another inner-city drive-by thing
Morning - fine - serve your first coffee of the day
Real privilege, it will take your problems away
Number one - the best - no excuse from me
I am here to serve the Moral Majority
Cool - groovy - morning - fine
Tipper Gore was a friend of mine
I love a free country
The stars and stripes and an apple for mommy
Zapruder the first to masturbate
The world's first taste of crucified grace
(And we say) there's not enough black in the Union Jack
(And we say) there's so much white in the Stars and Stripes
Fuck the Brady bill!
Fuck the Brady bill!
If God made man they say
Sam Colt made him equal
Images of perfection, suntan and napalm
Grenada - Haiti - Poland - Nicaragua
Who shall we choose for our morality
I'm thinking right now of Hollywood tragedy
Big Mac, smack, phoenix r, please smile y'all
Cuba, Mexico can't cauterise our discipline
Your idols speak so much of the abyss
Yet your morals only run as deep as the surface
Cool - groovy - morning - fine
Tipper Gore was a friend of mine
I love a free country
The stars and stripes and an apple for mommy
(Conservatives say) "There ain't no black in the Union Jack"
(Democrats say) "There ain't enough white in the Stars and Stripes"
Compton - Harlem - a pimp fucked a priest
The white man has just found a new moral saviour
Vital stats - how white was their skin
Unimportant - just another inner-city drive-by thing
Morning - fine - serve your first coffee of the day
Real privilege, it will take your problems away
Number one - the best - no excuse from me
I am here to serve the Moral Majority
Cool - groovy - morning - fine
Tipper Gore was a friend of mine
I love a free country
The stars and stripes and an apple for mommy
Zapruder the first to masturbate
The world's first taste of crucified grace
(And we say) there's not enough black in the Union Jack
(And we say) there's so much white in the Stars and Stripes
Fuck the Brady bill!
Fuck the Brady bill!
If God made man they say
Sam Colt made him equal
Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit'sworldwouldfallapart song meanings
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Fast Car
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"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.
Dreamwalker
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Silent Planet
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.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I think this song is about the way America (especially Republicans) use their "morality to justify their actions. The line "Who shall we choose for our morality" expresses the notion of America forcing its will upon others because they think they hold the moral high ground. However, the Manics expose this hypocracy with the line "Your idols speak so much of the abyss/ Yet your morals only run as deep as the surface" which shows that while the idols (leaders) are preaching about the end of the world and how they do what they do to prevent the world from slipping into chaos, the real reason behind it is their own personal agendas, ie the moralaity is just surface ie superficial.
It is also interesting to look at how America has gotten involved in other countries mentioned in the song, and the song points out that America has its own problems (racial) that it choses to ignore. Perhaps a criticism on the instead of trying to fix everyone elses problem, try to fix your problems first.