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.
I was wasted in the afternoon, waiting on a train
I woke up in pieces, and Elisabeth had disappeared again
I wish you were inside of me
I hope that you're ok
I hope you're resting quietly
I just wanted to say
Good, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight
Good, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight
We couldn't all be cowboys
So, some of us are clowns
And some of us are dancers on the midway
We roam from town to town
I hope that everybody can find a little flame
Me, I say my prayers
Then I just light myself on fire
And I walk out on the wire once again, and I say
Good, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight
Good, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight
I will wait for you in Bâton Rouge
I'll miss you down in New Orleans
I'll wait for you while she slips in something comfortable
I'll miss you when I'm slipping in between
If you wrap yourself in daffodils
I will wrap myself in pain, oh, oh
And if you're the queen of California, baby
I am the king of the rain, and I say
Good, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight
Good, goodnight Elisabeth
The moon's satellite, yeah
Now, won't you fall down on me
Now, won't you fall down on me
Come, come fall down on me now
Won't you fall down on me
'Cause I'm all alone
You ain't coming home
You just settle down, down, down into bones
I said I'm all alone
You ain't coming home
You just settle down, down, down into bones
I woke up in pieces, and Elisabeth had disappeared again
I wish you were inside of me
I hope that you're ok
I hope you're resting quietly
I just wanted to say
Good, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight
Good, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight
We couldn't all be cowboys
So, some of us are clowns
And some of us are dancers on the midway
We roam from town to town
I hope that everybody can find a little flame
Me, I say my prayers
Then I just light myself on fire
And I walk out on the wire once again, and I say
Good, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight
Good, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight
I will wait for you in Bâton Rouge
I'll miss you down in New Orleans
I'll wait for you while she slips in something comfortable
I'll miss you when I'm slipping in between
If you wrap yourself in daffodils
I will wrap myself in pain, oh, oh
And if you're the queen of California, baby
I am the king of the rain, and I say
Good, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight Elisabeth, goodnight
Good, goodnight Elisabeth
The moon's satellite, yeah
Now, won't you fall down on me
Now, won't you fall down on me
Come, come fall down on me now
Won't you fall down on me
'Cause I'm all alone
You ain't coming home
You just settle down, down, down into bones
I said I'm all alone
You ain't coming home
You just settle down, down, down into bones
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Light Up The Sky
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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.
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
its about loving someone who is gone