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.
Six o'clock the siren kicks him from a dream
Tries to shake it off but it just won't stop
Can't find the strength but he's got promises to keep
And wood to chop before he sleeps
I may never get over
but never's better than now
I've got bases to cover
He's in the parking lot just sitting in his car
It's nine o'clock but he can't get out
He lights a cigarette
and turns the music down
but just can't seem to shake that sound
Once I thought I'd get over
but it's too late for me now
I've got bases to cover
Chorus
Melody walks through the door
and memory flies out the window
and nobody knows what they want
'til they finally let it all go
The pain inside
coming outside
So many ways to drown a man
So many ways to drag him down
Some are fast and some take years and years
Can't hear what he's saying when he's talking in his sleep
Finally found the sound but he's in too deep
I could never get over
Is it too late for me now?
Feel like blowing my cover
Chorus
But don't cut your losses too soon
'cause you'll only be cutting your throat
And answer a call while you still hear at all
'cause nobody will if you won't
Tries to shake it off but it just won't stop
Can't find the strength but he's got promises to keep
And wood to chop before he sleeps
I may never get over
but never's better than now
I've got bases to cover
He's in the parking lot just sitting in his car
It's nine o'clock but he can't get out
He lights a cigarette
and turns the music down
but just can't seem to shake that sound
Once I thought I'd get over
but it's too late for me now
I've got bases to cover
Chorus
Melody walks through the door
and memory flies out the window
and nobody knows what they want
'til they finally let it all go
The pain inside
coming outside
So many ways to drown a man
So many ways to drag him down
Some are fast and some take years and years
Can't hear what he's saying when he's talking in his sleep
Finally found the sound but he's in too deep
I could never get over
Is it too late for me now?
Feel like blowing my cover
Chorus
But don't cut your losses too soon
'cause you'll only be cutting your throat
And answer a call while you still hear at all
'cause nobody will if you won't
Lyrics submitted by Idan
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The first few lines are taken directly from "The Dead" by James Joyce.
I don't know if Kevin Moore was foretelling his decision to leave or not, but...
"So many ways to drown a man So many ways to drag him down Some are fast and some take years and years"
...how true in any context!
Dream Theater is brilliant.
LM
The stuff in the beginning:
"Well isn't it for the honor of God Aunt Kate"
"I know all about the honor of God Mary Jane"
Is not about pot. It is a quotation of a dialogue btween two characters in "The Dead", one of a compilation of stories in Dubliners by James Joyce.
"The Dead" is basically a story about a man who thinks he is superior to everyone around him. Over the course of the story, however, he is gradually broken down and humbled, realizing that everyone is equal, and all are destined to the same inevitable fate of death.
Any ideas on how this might fit into the song? Maybe a parallel to Kevin Moore's feelings upon leaving the band? What do you guys think?
Here are some lines from Robert Frost's "Stopping by Wood on a Snowy Evening":
The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.
That clearly recalls the "can't find strenght...." part, though I don't know if there's an actual connection between the poem and the song, it might just be a reference.
yeah, can't agree with you more.The poem will come up to my mind while i listen to the song.
Just discovered this band a couple of months ago, and just now got around to looking on this site for lyrics and meanings and such. The speech is a quote from James Joyce's "The Dead."
"No," continued Aunt Kate, "she wouldn't be said or led by anyone, slaving there in that choir night and day, night and day. Six o'clock on Christmas morning! And all for what?"
"Well, isn't it for the honour of God, Aunt Kate?" asked Mary Jane, twisting round on the piano-stool and smiling.
Aunt Kate turned fiercely on her niece and said:
"I know all about the honour of God, Mary Jane, but I think it's not at all honourable for the pope to turn out the women out of the choirs that have slaved there all their lives and put little whipper-snappers of boys over their heads. I suppose it is for the good of the Church if the pope does it. But it's not just, Mary Jane, and it's not right."
I know this song was probably/possibly written about Kevin Moore and his creative differences with the band, but my interpretation when I first heard it was this:
A guy, probably getting on in his years, realizes some sort of talent, but feels trapped by the day-to-day business of working life. He becomes torn to the extent where he can't even get out of his car to go to work. He realizes that his time is short, and he has to act now.
As someone else mentioned, the voice samples are from James Joyce. As much as I LOVE Jordan Rudess's work, I miss Moore's use of voice samples.
It's about DT's first keyboardist, Kevin Moore, deciding to leave the band
dt's kicks ass
This song is class,its the best one of the album.Great bass work at 0:53 seconds,nice distortion.John myung is a great bassist.
lol how about the bass work at 3:33?
Not to say ystejamfan is wrong but Kevin Moore leaving came as a suprise to the band.