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.
- This is the life
- This is the life
A simple fear to wash you away
- This is the life
- This is the life
An open mind cancelled it today
- This is the life
- This is the life
A silent song that's in your words
- This is the life
- This is the life
A different taste that's in your mind
This is the life on Mars
This is the life on Mars
Mary was a different girl
Had a thing for astronauts
Mary was the type of girl
She always liked to play a lot
Mary was a holy girl
Father wet her appetite
Mary was the type of girl
She always liked to fall apart
Tell me did you see her face?
Tell me did you smell her taste?
Tell me what's the difference,
Don't they all just look the same inside?
Buddha for Mary, here it comes!
Mary was an acrobat
But still she couldn't seem to breathe
Mary was becoming everything she didn't want to be
Mary would hallucinate
And see the sky upon the wall
Mary was the type of girl
She always liked to fly
Tell me did you see her face?
Tell me did you smell her taste?
Tell me what's the difference,
Don't they all just look the same inside?
Buddha for Mary, here it comes!
Buddha for Mary, here it comes!
This is the life on Mars
This is the life on Mars
This is the life on Mars
This is the life
He said, "Can you here me, are you sleeping?"
She said, "Will you rape me now?"
He said, "Leave the politics to mad men"
She said, "I believe your lies"
He said, "There's a paradox beneath me"
She said, "Am I supposed to bleed?"
He said, "You'd better pray to Jesus"
She said, "I don’t believe in God"
Mary was a different girl
Had a thing for astronauts
Mary was the type of girl
She always liked to play a lot
Mary was a holy girl
Father wet her appetite
Mary was the type of girl
She always liked to fall, a-
Part!
Buddha for Mary, here it comes!
Buddha for Mary, here it comes!
Buddha for Mary, here it comes!
Here it comes!
- This is the life
A simple fear to wash you away
- This is the life
- This is the life
An open mind cancelled it today
- This is the life
- This is the life
A silent song that's in your words
- This is the life
- This is the life
A different taste that's in your mind
This is the life on Mars
This is the life on Mars
Mary was a different girl
Had a thing for astronauts
Mary was the type of girl
She always liked to play a lot
Mary was a holy girl
Father wet her appetite
Mary was the type of girl
She always liked to fall apart
Tell me did you see her face?
Tell me did you smell her taste?
Tell me what's the difference,
Don't they all just look the same inside?
Buddha for Mary, here it comes!
Mary was an acrobat
But still she couldn't seem to breathe
Mary was becoming everything she didn't want to be
Mary would hallucinate
And see the sky upon the wall
Mary was the type of girl
She always liked to fly
Tell me did you see her face?
Tell me did you smell her taste?
Tell me what's the difference,
Don't they all just look the same inside?
Buddha for Mary, here it comes!
Buddha for Mary, here it comes!
This is the life on Mars
This is the life on Mars
This is the life on Mars
This is the life
He said, "Can you here me, are you sleeping?"
She said, "Will you rape me now?"
He said, "Leave the politics to mad men"
She said, "I believe your lies"
He said, "There's a paradox beneath me"
She said, "Am I supposed to bleed?"
He said, "You'd better pray to Jesus"
She said, "I don’t believe in God"
Mary was a different girl
Had a thing for astronauts
Mary was the type of girl
She always liked to play a lot
Mary was a holy girl
Father wet her appetite
Mary was the type of girl
She always liked to fall, a-
Part!
Buddha for Mary, here it comes!
Buddha for Mary, here it comes!
Buddha for Mary, here it comes!
Here it comes!
Lyrics submitted by earthsick
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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.
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I'm agreeing with the people who are saying this is about christianity and how it is very corrupt these days. I however, have a slightly different view of how it can be percieved too. I almost feel as if Jared is taking the p*** out of religion in this song. He is stating how religion contradicts itsself in moderised society today. Christianty states we should have all of these morals, and if you are a christian you should follow them. However, mostt people in westernised countries are christian these days and the mass majority do not follow these morals, such as premarital sex is now widely accepted, but within the bible is not.
I also get the feeling on inequality within the "conversation part of the song"... its talking about sexism. How the woman is saying, she believes his lies because apparently woman were not clever enough to question men back in those days about their political views and their opinions. It was also looked over when men raped woman back then too... I dont know... maybe i'm off key but what I do know is that this song is very copmplex to try and understand... and there could be so many perceptions of it...