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.
So here i go
I'll dive right in
Break through the waves
Straight to the ocean floor
And although my hands are shaking
I lie perfectly still
'Cause I'm determined to let myself sink down
And I know I'm buried too far down
To feel the warmth from the sun again
I could wave my arms and swim away
But never reach the shore
But for now I will lay face first in the sand
With the wreckage from ships that lost their way
And I know I'm buried too far down
To feel the warmth from the sun again
And I know I'm buried too far down
To feel the warmth from the sun again
And although my hands are shaking
I lie perfectly still
'Cause I'm determined to let myself sink down
And I know I'm buried too far down
To feel the warmth from the sun again
I'll dive right in
Break through the waves
Straight to the ocean floor
And although my hands are shaking
I lie perfectly still
'Cause I'm determined to let myself sink down
And I know I'm buried too far down
To feel the warmth from the sun again
I could wave my arms and swim away
But never reach the shore
But for now I will lay face first in the sand
With the wreckage from ships that lost their way
And I know I'm buried too far down
To feel the warmth from the sun again
And I know I'm buried too far down
To feel the warmth from the sun again
And although my hands are shaking
I lie perfectly still
'Cause I'm determined to let myself sink down
And I know I'm buried too far down
To feel the warmth from the sun again
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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.
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
This is definitly my favorite song on Page Avenue. This song had a few meanings to me
i think he is having a problem and he is just letting everything happen and he's in too deep and might never solve it because "he's letting himself sink down". the whole song is a metaphor. yup yup.
he's def. in too deep and giving up
I could wave my arms and swim away But never reach the shore But for now i will lay face first in the sand With the wreckage from ships that lost their way
Very good lyrics, very raw and deep.
At first i miss interpreted the lyrics as "with the racket from ships that lost their way"
I think its about depression... He's so depressed that he just wants to give up just like other people who have lost their way (the ships) If he wanted to, he could pull himself out of this deep depression but he wouldn't be happy for long, so he decides its time to let the depression take him.
I relate 2 this song on a # of diff levels cuz i used 2 b depressed & i kno how difficult it can b 2 continue on w/ life when it seems easier 2 just let go...its really hard 2 continue w/ ur life sometimes...it gets better eventually tho!!!
It kind of sounds like suicide aye? Him saying that he will "Never feel the warmth from the sun again", and "And allthough my hands are shaking, I lie perfectly still, Cause i'm determined to let myself sink down"... he's scared about doing it, but he knows he has to, so he's determind. Or I could just be COMPLETLY wrong and it could be about depression!! lol
this song is pretty hip, but do you know who is more hip? Damimin =D
Or maybe its suicide due to depression!
this song 2 me is about how life honestly sucks, and how no matter wat we do we all feel it, i think its about a guy giving into that feeling, and just forgetting about trying to save himself, like we all kid ourselves into thinking that its possible, i know i feel like this almost everyday, this song just keeps me thinking why bother, yet i dont do anything, its crazy, i've tried before, and well im still here so i fucked it up. but thsi song is for sure about suicide and depression