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.
They called it faith
They called it fair
They called it resolution
I call it shit when we were alone
They simply paid no mind
You'd suffered such a crime
Then there you were
A mother way too soon
They said you'd made your bed
Then they filled your head
With the sound
The bells of a cathedral
You say you're still ashamed
I with that I could make it stop
Like salt thrown over shoulder
A coin tossed in a fountain
Not unlike a knock on wood
You said only in as much
As you were sensitive to touch
Did you feel like a human when they spoke
And so you hid your life
All bottled up inside
Just enough to make
Your angels choke
You took all you heard
And tried to make them your own words
Only deafened by the sound
The bells of a cathedral
Now you hate yourself and I wish that I could make it fucking stop
All my life
Surrounded, unfounded
Teachings thought as threats
I won't forget
They called it fair
They called it resolution
I call it shit when we were alone
They simply paid no mind
You'd suffered such a crime
Then there you were
A mother way too soon
They said you'd made your bed
Then they filled your head
With the sound
The bells of a cathedral
You say you're still ashamed
I with that I could make it stop
Like salt thrown over shoulder
A coin tossed in a fountain
Not unlike a knock on wood
You said only in as much
As you were sensitive to touch
Did you feel like a human when they spoke
And so you hid your life
All bottled up inside
Just enough to make
Your angels choke
You took all you heard
And tried to make them your own words
Only deafened by the sound
The bells of a cathedral
Now you hate yourself and I wish that I could make it fucking stop
All my life
Surrounded, unfounded
Teachings thought as threats
I won't forget
Lyrics submitted by skycamefalling00
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My guess:
Patty has a friend who struggles with her sexuality, and is also religious. She was told that getting married to a man would make her straight, and it didn't.
On top of it, now she's a mother.
As a Christian who loves D4, this is one of the most important/relatable songs they've ever written to me. Religious leaders and institutions pushing people into marriages they're not ready for is something I've witnessed first hand, as well as the terrible act of trying to "fix" homosexuals into being straight, like it's a switch they can turn on and off.
@Robolitious I think you nailed it dude. This is definitely a song about a single parent who is obviously gay but grew up in a religious household that told them they were wrong for feeling this way which is the reason they became pregnant in the first place.