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.
As grey traces of dawn tinge the eastern sky,|the three travelers, men of Willowdale,|emerge from the forest shadow.|Fording the River Dawn, they turn south, journeying|into the dark and forbidding lands of the Necromancer|Even now the intensity of his dread power can be felt,|weakening the body and saddening the heart|Ultimately they will become empty, mindless spectres...|stripped of will and soul, only|their thirst for freedom gives them hunger for vengeance...'||Silence shrouds the forest|As the birds announce the dawn|Three trav'llers ford the river|And southward journey on|The road is lined with peril|The air is charged with fear|The shadow of his nearness|Weighs like iron tears||[II. Under the Shadow]||'Shreds of black cloud loom in overcast skies.|The Necromancer keeps watch with his magic prism eyes.|He views all his lands and is already aware of the three helpless invaders|trapped in his lair...'||Brooding in the tower|Watching o'er his land|Holding ev'ry creature|Helplessly they stand|Gaze into his prisms|Knowing they are near|Lead them to the dungeons|Spectres numb with fear|They bow defeated||[III. Return Of the Prince]||'Enter the Champion|Prince By-Tor appears to battle for freedom from chains of long years|The spell has been broken...the Dark Lands are bright.|The Wraith of the Necromancer soars|away in the night.'||Stealthily attacking|By-Tor slays his foe|The men are free to run now|From labyrinths below|The Wraith of Necromancer|Shadows through the sky|Another land to darken|With evil prism eye|
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
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I love rush and just heard this song for the first time today and i must say even if you hate Rush around 6:30 to 9:00 in this song will blow your mind