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.
And my words will be here when I'm gone
As I'm fading away against the wind
And the words you left me linger on
As I'm failing again now, never to change this
And I'm sympathetic,
Never letting on I feel the way I do
As I'm falling apart again at the seam
And it seems I'm alone here, hollow again
As I'm flailing again against the wind
And the scars I am left with swallow again
As I'm failing again now, never to change this
And I'm sympathetic,
Never letting on I feel the way I do
As I'm falling apart again at the seam
And I'm sympathetic,
Never letting on I feel the way I do
As I'm falling apart again at the seam
The same old feelings are taking over
And I can't seem to make them go away
And I can't take all the pressure sober,
But I can't seem to make it go away
The same old feelings are taking over
And I can't seem to make them go away
And I can't take all the pressure sober
(I can't make it go away. I can't make it go away)
And I'm sympathetic,
Never letting on I feel the way I do
As I'm falling apart again at the seam
And I'm sympathetic,
Never letting on I feel the way I do
As I'm falling apart again at the seam
And I'm falling, falling, falling,
Falling, falling, falling, falling
Apart again at the seam.
As I'm fading away against the wind
And the words you left me linger on
As I'm failing again now, never to change this
And I'm sympathetic,
Never letting on I feel the way I do
As I'm falling apart again at the seam
And it seems I'm alone here, hollow again
As I'm flailing again against the wind
And the scars I am left with swallow again
As I'm failing again now, never to change this
And I'm sympathetic,
Never letting on I feel the way I do
As I'm falling apart again at the seam
And I'm sympathetic,
Never letting on I feel the way I do
As I'm falling apart again at the seam
The same old feelings are taking over
And I can't seem to make them go away
And I can't take all the pressure sober,
But I can't seem to make it go away
The same old feelings are taking over
And I can't seem to make them go away
And I can't take all the pressure sober
(I can't make it go away. I can't make it go away)
And I'm sympathetic,
Never letting on I feel the way I do
As I'm falling apart again at the seam
And I'm sympathetic,
Never letting on I feel the way I do
As I'm falling apart again at the seam
And I'm falling, falling, falling,
Falling, falling, falling, falling
Apart again at the seam.
Lyrics submitted by rock_metal_17
Sympathetic Lyrics as written by Dale Stewart Shaun Welgemoed
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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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.
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The first time I heard this song, I pictured a guy being a friend to a girl, being there for her, listening to her feelings for someone else, not letting on the way he really feels about her for her sake, and the more he fails to win her love, the more he falls apart inside, the same old feeling taking over him, never to change...
I think it's basically about screwing up over and over but not showing it to anyone until the point where there's too much pressure to cope on your own that you turn to more destructive ways of getting through life. You don't want to let anyone know how you really feel out of fear of being weak or of disappointing people who you might care about.
I agree with texastersdr0p, that it's about a girl, and the failure to show her how he really feels. I also agree that it could mean that he is hiding his self anger and his emotions from others, but if you listen to the song and read the lyrics closely, there's someone else involved in the problem: hence the word "sympathetic". he waits for her to understand, and he's always there for her no matter what, but she doesn't know how he really feels, and that's where the line "the same old feelings are taking over" and there's nothing he can do about the way he feels, "and I can't seem to make it go away". apparently he was hurt by her or someone else("and the scars I'm left with swallow again")(possibly her"and the words you left me linger on"),and he doesn't want it to happen again, so he pushes her away even though he cares so much for her. he doesn't want to get hurt, but without her, he's lost("I'm falling, falling....") I know that that's all sounding like I'm some freak, but who cares, I just needed to get that whole thing off my chest, because I been through that. I hate it so much, and yet, I can't help but fall for her. I drags me down every day, and it hurts to keep it all locked inside. anyway, Seether rocks hard core. I love this band, their deffinately one of my top bands ever. they're the best!
@blindmanwalking Going through the same thing man, it fucking sucks (I know this comment is 12 years old)
This song is definitely about giving in to your addiction and surrendering all self-control. Whether its drugs, alcohol, sex, food...it's just about trying to over come something so desperately and failing every time. People struggle with all sorts of addictions and beating them before they beat you is one of the hardest things to endure.
Seether rules, all of you suck.
Insane j, no we don't suck... this song sunds really cheerie but i think the song is about failing and faling back to where he was. but he really doesn't care cuz there's nuthin he can do about it. I'm really not sure about this song.
"And my words will be here when I’m gone" kinda sums up the song for me
is urbanSKOOLreject for real? wow..........i think this song deals with alcoholism, lose of a partner, and everything else that goes along with drinking too much. long live saun
this song is about a girl who he knows, and he cant tell her how he really feels and it bothers him to the point of self destuction hence the part which says and the scars i am left with swallow again, the scars he is talking about are track marks he cant say how he really feels and it bothers him to the point of relapsing, "i cant take all the pressure sober
this song sums so much up, its all about being alone and miserable. i love it! this song to so awesome, i hope seether is around for a long time
This song means a lot to me. "never letting on I feel the way I do As I’m falling apart again at the seam" . I hate it when it when you don't want anyone else to know how shitty you feel.