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.
"Caution: to prevent electric shock do not remove cover
No user-serviceable parts inside Refer servicing to qualified
Service personnel"
Let this be the epitaph for my heart
Cupid put too much poison in the dart
This is the epitaph for my heart because it's gone, gone gone
And life goes on and on and on and death goes on, world without end
And you're not my friend
Who will mourn the passing of my heart
Will its little droppings climb the pop chart
Who'll take its ashes and,
Singing, fling them from the top of the Brill Building
And life goes on,
And dawn, and dawn and death goes on,
World without end and you're
Not my friend
No user-serviceable parts inside Refer servicing to qualified
Service personnel"
Let this be the epitaph for my heart
Cupid put too much poison in the dart
This is the epitaph for my heart because it's gone, gone gone
And life goes on and on and on and death goes on, world without end
And you're not my friend
Who will mourn the passing of my heart
Will its little droppings climb the pop chart
Who'll take its ashes and,
Singing, fling them from the top of the Brill Building
And life goes on,
And dawn, and dawn and death goes on,
World without end and you're
Not my friend
Lyrics submitted by Anne Arbour
Epitaph for My Heart Lyrics as written by Stephin Merritt
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"Caution: to prevent electric shock do not remove cover No user-serviceable parts insde Refer servicing to qualified service personnel" Let this be the epitaph for my heart.
genius. utter and complete genius. Stephen Merrit is the man.
basically this song means, dont fuck around with peoples emotions if you dont know what your doing.
I think it is about two friends of the same sex, and he falls in love with him, unintentionally. This is completely (beautifully) ambiguous, though, and I should not make such an assumption just because the writer of the song is gay.
I can't pick a favourite Magnetic Fields song because the competition is so intense.
This is my favorite song by the Magnetic Fields...
I think it is about two friends of opposite sex, and he falls in love with her, unintentionally.. which is why he referred to cupid "cupid put too much poison in the dart." And I am guessing he told her or she found out and their friendship fell apart because of it. "and you're not my friend." also, with the whole "Who will mourn the passing of my heart Will its little droppings climb the pop chart Who'll take its ashes and, singing, fling them from the top of the Brill Building" part is the base of him feeling alone, because he lost his friend and now who'll be there to "mourn the passing of heart" .... be there for him, comfort him, and reassure him... so he pretty much does it himself by this part "And life goes on, and on, and on and death goes on, world without end and you're not my friend"
Let this be the epitaph for my heart
That part in the song is haunting. He sings it just as the phenomenal music begins. I cannot stop listening to this song. Utterly amazing. Stephen has a chilling voice, one that grabs hold of you when you're listening to this song. I can listen to it over and over again, and every time I feel like I connect and understand more and more.
No one can copy them, they are the masters!
My favorite part of this song is the allusion to the songs he writes as "heart droppings."
The Brill Building is in New York. It (used) to be a place where a songwriter could go with some material and find singers, musicians, and recording execs, all in the same building. Basicly you could take somthing you had written and turn it to a record all in one place.
The first part (the "Caution caution" part) was composed as a song by itself. Merritt decided the album had enough short songs so he used it as an introduction to this other song.
wow thanks for the info about the brill building!! this song is about being dumped again after many many times, it feels like that's it. you can't take this anymore. and there's nothing left not even a friendship. stephin merritt is a genius!
I was recently at the dentist, and on the side of the X-ray machine it said, "Caution: To prevent electric shock do not remove cover..." It certainly made my root canal better. It's funny because I never thought about this in terms of best friend love, which is odd considering my current situation. I often wonder who will mourn the passing of my heart. "And you're not my friend..."
I recently saw that at the dentist too, a pleasant find.
Steve's voice is just so piercing even at his bassist. I love how clever the lyrics are. It's basically telling his ex-friend/lover that the relationship is completely over. You broke my heart. You're not even a friend to me any more. And life goes on. I move on, kind of thing. Lovely.