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.
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
I don't know when I noticed life was life at my expense
The words of my heart lined up like prisoners on a fence
The dreams came in like needy children tugging at my sleeve
I said I have no way of feeding you, so leave
But there was a time I asked my father for a dollar
And he gave it a ten dollar raise
And when I needed my mother and I called her
She stayed with me for days
Now someones on the telephone, desperate in his pain
Someones on the bathroom floor doing her cocaine
Someones got his finger on the button in some room
No one can convince me we aren't gluttons for our doom
But I tried to make this place my place
I asked for providence to smile upon me with his sweet face
Yeah but Ill tell you
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
(by grace, my sight grows stronger)
And I do not feel the romance I will not be
(and I will not be a pawn for the prince of darkness any longer)
Maybe there's no haven in this world for tender age
My heart beat like the wings of wild birds in a cage
My greatest hope my greatest cause to grieve
And my heart flew from its cage and it bled upon my sleeve
Oh the cries of passion were like wounds that needed healing
I couldn't hear them for the thunder
I was half the naked distance between hell and heavens ceiling
And he almost pulled me under
Now someones on the telephone, desperate in his pain
Someones on the bathroom floor doing her cocaine
Someones got his finger on the button in some room
No one can convince me we aren't gluttons for our doom
But I tried to make this place my place
I asked for providence to smile upon me with his sweet face
But Ill tell you
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
(by grace, my sight grows stronger)
And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
(grows stronger)
By grace
(my place is of the sun)
My sight
(and this place is of the dark)
Is growing stronger
(I do not feel the romance)
I will not be a pawn
(I will not be)
For the prince of darkness any longer
And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
I don't know when I noticed life was life at my expense
The words of my heart lined up like prisoners on a fence
The dreams came in like needy children tugging at my sleeve
I said I have no way of feeding you, so leave
But there was a time I asked my father for a dollar
And he gave it a ten dollar raise
And when I needed my mother and I called her
She stayed with me for days
Now someones on the telephone, desperate in his pain
Someones on the bathroom floor doing her cocaine
Someones got his finger on the button in some room
No one can convince me we aren't gluttons for our doom
But I tried to make this place my place
I asked for providence to smile upon me with his sweet face
Yeah but Ill tell you
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
(by grace, my sight grows stronger)
And I do not feel the romance I will not be
(and I will not be a pawn for the prince of darkness any longer)
Maybe there's no haven in this world for tender age
My heart beat like the wings of wild birds in a cage
My greatest hope my greatest cause to grieve
And my heart flew from its cage and it bled upon my sleeve
Oh the cries of passion were like wounds that needed healing
I couldn't hear them for the thunder
I was half the naked distance between hell and heavens ceiling
And he almost pulled me under
Now someones on the telephone, desperate in his pain
Someones on the bathroom floor doing her cocaine
Someones got his finger on the button in some room
No one can convince me we aren't gluttons for our doom
But I tried to make this place my place
I asked for providence to smile upon me with his sweet face
But Ill tell you
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
(by grace, my sight grows stronger)
And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
(grows stronger)
By grace
(my place is of the sun)
My sight
(and this place is of the dark)
Is growing stronger
(I do not feel the romance)
I will not be a pawn
(I will not be)
For the prince of darkness any longer
Lyrics submitted by ThePurpleAngel
Prince Of Darkness Lyrics as written by Emily Ann Saliers Amy Elizabeth Ray
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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<i>"There is so much Christian allegory in this album it is shocking, and how not a single person has mentioned it is bewildering." --3minuterul</i>
Yes.
You don't have to like Christianity to acknowledge this. And the Indigo Girls aren't trying to convert anyone. They are, honestly and artistically, making personal statements, which in some songs, such as this, includes their faith.
"Prince of Darkness" is a straight-up Christian statement in which the writer professes her commitment not to Earth, the realm of the Prince of Darkness, but to Heaven, the realm of God.
As "romantic" as the temptations of Earth can be, the writer "does not catch the spark." She recognizes that her ultimate "place is of the sun," i.e. with God in heaven. Earth is a place of suffering, of pain, drugs, and even nuclear devastation. She will not be deceived by the Prince of Darkness any longer.
It's a passionate, well-wrought song. You don't have to agree with its Christian framework to appreciate it.
@LuckyTown I think you nailed it. <br />
"By grace, my sight grows stronger And I do not feel the romance I will not be and I will not be a pawn for the prince of darkness any longer"
Come one people, this is clearly a profession of Christian faith. She has decided to walk in the light of the Lord , which only happens through grace, and not be a pawn for Satin.
Metiforically she uses a relationship with a man, to discribe her earthly struggles, and the larger battle of virtue/faith VS sin/non belief. "Now someones on the telephone, desperate in his pain Someones on the bathroom floor doing her cocaine"
There is so much Christian allegory in this album it is shocking, and how not a single person has mentioned it is bewildering.
Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls wrote this song. In 2006, she told us: "That was written a long, long time ago. Sometimes when I think about that song, it feels pretty adolescent to me. Some of the images are overwrought. But it's sort of a testament to my parents, and to their love, which I know is kind of a rare thing in this world, because I know that a lot of people really struggle with their parents. But it was always my own constant battle with my inner darkness, and the prince of darkness, obviously, the diabolical force. So it's about light and darkness, and how darkness, you can feel sometimes like it almost is going to pull you under But there are people in your life who can save you, and not just my parents, but friends or support systems. In the end, it's an affirmative statement - I'm not going to be a pawn for the prince of darkness. I have the strength to find my light rather than to dwell in my darkness."
i love this song. its pretty self explanitory i think. "i will not be a pawn (i will not be) for the prince of darkness any longer "
kourakis, Where exactly do you get that this is about not enjoying sex? I'm not being obnoxious, I really want to know, as I just can't see it, anywhere.
no one can convince me we aren't gluttons for our doom
I though it was "no one can convince me we are gluttons for our doom"
I guess I'm a hopeless romantic
I think it's about living in a self destructive environment that glamorizes itself, particularly in regard to drug abuse. For example, a lot of addicts romanticize the addiction and the life style that it entails. There's a common misconception that it will make you edgy, or soulful, or poetic. She alludes to that and compares it to war mongering governments.
In the meantime, in all reality, it's just toxic. I think she's recognizing that, and making a statement against it.
I kind of feel like mle888 is pretty right. For me, anyway, going through the whole world of self injury (something I believe Amy did too, her songs seem indicative of it) this song was for me, the moment when I said, Ok I'm done being dark and depressed. It's the gift of choice to be happy or miserable, and Emily chose to be happy. Well, she inspired me to do the same. Love you, A&E!
I feel this whole album is about pain and hope. This song starts by sharing her inability to enjoy sex. (Likely due to past rape)and like many that have experienced rape tend to attract more abusers. I believe this song is about her realization that she will no longer enable abusers and therefore “will not be a pawn for the prince of darkness any longer”.
Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls wrote this song. In 2006, she told us: "That was written a long, long time ago. Sometimes when I think about that song, it feels pretty adolescent to me. Some of the images are overwrought. But it's sort of a testament to my parents, and to their love, which I know is kind of a rare thing in this world, because I know that a lot of people really struggle with their parents. But it was always my own constant battle with my inner darkness, and the prince of darkness, obviously, the diabolical force. So it's about light and darkness, and how darkness, you can feel sometimes like it almost is going to pull you under But there are people in your life who can save you, and not just my parents, but friends or support systems. In the end, it's an affirmative statement - I'm not going to be a pawn for the prince of darkness. I have the strength to find my light rather than to dwell in my darkness."<br />