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.
I don't know who to trust, no surprise
(Everyone feels so far away from me)
Happy thoughts sift through dust and the lies
(Trying not to break but I'm so tired of this deceit)
(Every time I try to make myself get back up on my feet)
(All I ever think about is this)
(All the tiring time between)
(And how trying to put my trust in you just takes so much out of me)
Take everything from the inside and throw it all away
'Cause I swear for the last time I won't trust myself with you
Tension is building inside steadily
(Everyone feels so far away from me)
Happy thoughts forcing their way out of me
(Trying not to break but I'm so tired of this deceit)
(Every time I try to make myself get back up on my feet)
(All I ever think about is this)
(All the tiring time between)
(And how trying to put my trust in you just takes so much out of me)
Take everything from the inside and throw it all away
'Cause I swear for the last time I won't trust myself with you
I won't waste myself on you
You
You
Waste myself on you
You
You
I'll take everything from the inside and throw it all away
'Cause I swear for the last time I won't trust myself with you
Everything from the inside and just throw it all away
'Cause I swear for the last time I won't trust myself with you
You, you, you
(Everyone feels so far away from me)
Happy thoughts sift through dust and the lies
(Trying not to break but I'm so tired of this deceit)
(Every time I try to make myself get back up on my feet)
(All I ever think about is this)
(All the tiring time between)
(And how trying to put my trust in you just takes so much out of me)
Take everything from the inside and throw it all away
'Cause I swear for the last time I won't trust myself with you
Tension is building inside steadily
(Everyone feels so far away from me)
Happy thoughts forcing their way out of me
(Trying not to break but I'm so tired of this deceit)
(Every time I try to make myself get back up on my feet)
(All I ever think about is this)
(All the tiring time between)
(And how trying to put my trust in you just takes so much out of me)
Take everything from the inside and throw it all away
'Cause I swear for the last time I won't trust myself with you
I won't waste myself on you
You
You
Waste myself on you
You
You
I'll take everything from the inside and throw it all away
'Cause I swear for the last time I won't trust myself with you
Everything from the inside and just throw it all away
'Cause I swear for the last time I won't trust myself with you
You, you, you
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
To me, this isn't just about being betrayed, that's much to shallow a thought for such a strong song. This song means so much more. To me, it describes a beaten child, a child who lived through a household that did nothing but beat and hurt them, the video only supports this, seeing as it stars a young child who looks sickly, and a bit scared at the beggining. To me, it seems that the fighting is a metaphor, he's trying to fight for his life and get out of the house, I'll explain with the lyrics. ^^
"I don't know who to trust no surprise." Most children can trust their parents, love their parents and such. This child isn't sure whether ot not he can. He's hurt by them, but he still loves them.
"Everyone feels so far away from me" He has no friends, no caring family, he's just alone, therefore, everyone is "far away".
"Heavy thoughts sift through dust and the lies" His parents probally told him they loved him either in public or when sober. And then when home or drunk, they hurt the child.
"Trying not to break" Whenabused, you really think the world is going to shatter, you really do.
"...but i'm so tired if the deceit" He's trying to keep it together, but this is a lot to take on for a youg child.
"every time i try to make myself get back up on my feet" Everytime he gets back up, he's only pushed back down. He knows its not fair.
"all i ever think about is this all the tiring time between and how I try to put my trust in you just takes so much out of me" He trusts his amily only to be hurt, it takes alot on his mind, and his body. He can barely stand it.
"Take everything from the inside and throw it all away" All the happiness he's ever seen is gone when his family hurts him, he thinks they don't care.
"'cause I swear/for the last time i won't trust myself with you" He;s finally given up hope on his family.
"I won't trust myself with you" He's decided he's going to tell someone about his situation, he's going to get help.
"I won't waste myself on you Waste myself on you YOU" He's not going to let the rest of his life get ruined.
@`Kris, just a random fact, but the child in the video was actually chester's son, Jamie.