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.
Where am I today? I wish that I knew
'Cause looking around there's no sign of you
I don't remember one jump or one leap
Just quiet steps away from you lead
I'm holding my heart out but clutching it, too
Feeling this sort of a love that we once knew
Calling this a home when it's not even close
I'm playing the role with nerves left exposed
Standing on a darkened stage
Stumbling through the lines
Others have excuses
I have my reasons why
We get distracted by the dreams of our own
But nobody's happy while feeling alone
And knowing how hard it hurts when we fall
We lean another ladder against the wrong wall
And climb high to the highest rung
To shake fists at the sky
Others have excuses
I have my reasons why
With so much deception
It's hard not to wander away (hard not to wander away)
It's hard not wander away
'Cause looking around there's no sign of you
I don't remember one jump or one leap
Just quiet steps away from you lead
I'm holding my heart out but clutching it, too
Feeling this sort of a love that we once knew
Calling this a home when it's not even close
I'm playing the role with nerves left exposed
Standing on a darkened stage
Stumbling through the lines
Others have excuses
I have my reasons why
We get distracted by the dreams of our own
But nobody's happy while feeling alone
And knowing how hard it hurts when we fall
We lean another ladder against the wrong wall
And climb high to the highest rung
To shake fists at the sky
Others have excuses
I have my reasons why
With so much deception
It's hard not to wander away (hard not to wander away)
It's hard not wander away
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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."
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I think that this song is literally of a home falling apart, one day they wake up, and they are far apart from each other and they are trying to bring it back together with a ladder, for chance, but its the wrong way and they just end up wandering away and leaving each other and they both think they have their reasons why. Spiritually, I feel this way sometimes with God, except it's ONLY me wandering away, God is there handing me a ladder, and I lean it the wrong way. . . and I think I have all the reasons why Im wandering, when really God's reasons are the only ones I need, and need to go back.
I think this song is all about the human tendancy to wander away from God, because we want to control our own lives...when truly He is the only one that can make it all go right. It's just hard for us to accept that our lives might not be exactly how WE want them if we let God take over. "I'm calling this home but it's not even close"--we try to feel comfortable in our own decisions and dreams, but something's always missing when we do (our Creator!)
This is one of the best songs I have ever heard. The music and lyrics are awesome.
Totally agree with both of you guys... this song is so awesome...
this song is about a persons personal relationship with God. "i don't remember one jump or one leap, just quiet steps away from your lead" that's definitely about falling away from God. it's very sad, really.
i have a different take on the line "i'm calling this home but it's not even close." i think it is about getting too comfortable in the world and forgetting our residence on earth is only temporary...our real home is eternal in heaven (or hell sadly for some).
I love Nickel Creek. I've been a fan for a really long time. I by chance was flipping through the tv and came across the music video when it was debuting, and ever since then loved this group.
Beautiful and calming music. I love how there is nothing out there that is mainstream that compares to them. There is bluegrass/folk, of course, but nothing that became so popular. And I was even more suprised to find out they've been singing this sort of stuff all their life and weren't interested in being some pop group.
Nickel Creek is awesome because they incorporate Christianity in their music w/o changing their "polystylistic genre" which includes folk, pop, rock, bluegrass, etc.. Their amazing.
Vertigo22, I'm not a Christian, and I'm not particularly religious myself, but I still think this is a really good song. You interpret it the way you want to. That's the beauty of music. It's very ambiguous.
I really like her voice. It sounds so ethereal. And, to be honest, I like to think of it as having to do with your relationship with God. It's a nice song.
Love it! Very inspirational.