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.
The land was then young, I was fighting for it like everyone.
Ready to die for the cause, for my King, for my Lord.
You were my reason to live, to fight another day.
You were the only one for me, and you were only for me.
Another year I would be gone.
The war was leading us so far apart.
I built a house to keep you there.
Waiting for me, waiting
No one remembers my face nor my name,
In a dream, I'd stay here forever.
Headstone on my grave, words carved in vain
All these wounds only heal when I'm home.
The Taste of their blood in my mouth, and the scent of victory.
Scarred my soul for life, this man was not me.
Love is a game for the weak to play, they said.
I loved and love made me many times stronger.
Another year I would be gone.
The war was leading us so far apart.
I built a house to keep you there.
Waiting for me, waiting
No one remembers my face nor my name,
In a dream, I'd stay here forever.
Headstone on my grave, words carved in vain
All these wounds only heal when I'm home.
"Everything ends, everything dies
Now I know the Legends only lived in his lies"
My long and winding road, river and trees by the hills we lived on.
The ruins of my life I find, a signet ring on the ashes, I know my Lord betrayed me,
my reason to live was taken away.
I carry my loved one to the hills we loved, for the last time
I close your eyes, kiss you goodbye.
The only one who ever loved me.
I'm crushed inside, darling, my life
It shall end here
Headstone on your grave, words carved in vain
Now the darkness covers me
Ready to die for the cause, for my King, for my Lord.
You were my reason to live, to fight another day.
You were the only one for me, and you were only for me.
Another year I would be gone.
The war was leading us so far apart.
I built a house to keep you there.
Waiting for me, waiting
No one remembers my face nor my name,
In a dream, I'd stay here forever.
Headstone on my grave, words carved in vain
All these wounds only heal when I'm home.
The Taste of their blood in my mouth, and the scent of victory.
Scarred my soul for life, this man was not me.
Love is a game for the weak to play, they said.
I loved and love made me many times stronger.
Another year I would be gone.
The war was leading us so far apart.
I built a house to keep you there.
Waiting for me, waiting
No one remembers my face nor my name,
In a dream, I'd stay here forever.
Headstone on my grave, words carved in vain
All these wounds only heal when I'm home.
"Everything ends, everything dies
Now I know the Legends only lived in his lies"
My long and winding road, river and trees by the hills we lived on.
The ruins of my life I find, a signet ring on the ashes, I know my Lord betrayed me,
my reason to live was taken away.
I carry my loved one to the hills we loved, for the last time
I close your eyes, kiss you goodbye.
The only one who ever loved me.
I'm crushed inside, darling, my life
It shall end here
Headstone on your grave, words carved in vain
Now the darkness covers me
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Even if it is said this song was inspired by the movie Braveheart it has little to do with the plot of that movie... IMHO, I find that this song can be an alternate version of Replica, the war that changes everything, but here there is a positive love story with the protagonist still in love and loved by his women, while in Replica we see that she doesn't even recognize him when he comes back from war. I also see some connections with My Land, in that song we see the wrath for the invasion of a country but we don't know how the invasion ends, in this song it seems that it ended badly, so when the soldier comes back he finds only "the ruins of my life".