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 was on my way to the center of the sun
When I lost my wings and I fell into a crowd
And they carried me to a hole in the ground
And they buried me, where no one could see
And no one would be around
I
I am a virus
I
I live in silence
I was on my way to a city in the clouds
When I lost my mind and I had to settle down
Then I had a dream of an island in the sea where the lepers die
Where no one survives and no one can hear the cries
I
I am a virus
I live in silence
Just like heathens thinking
On our feet we'll believe in God
With one step, two steps, three steps toward the graveyard
On the high road to remembering
It seems that we forgot
I am a virus
I
I live in silence
When I lost my wings and I fell into a crowd
And they carried me to a hole in the ground
And they buried me, where no one could see
And no one would be around
I
I am a virus
I
I live in silence
I was on my way to a city in the clouds
When I lost my mind and I had to settle down
Then I had a dream of an island in the sea where the lepers die
Where no one survives and no one can hear the cries
I
I am a virus
I live in silence
Just like heathens thinking
On our feet we'll believe in God
With one step, two steps, three steps toward the graveyard
On the high road to remembering
It seems that we forgot
I am a virus
I
I live in silence
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i believe that you're most connected to a song when its all you can listen to, and at this point in my life that's how it is. i adore this song.
for me, moving past the religious references and delving even deeper:
this song dictates the acceptance of your personal tragedy and leaving shame to get into where you stand.
i, i am a virus i, i live in silence
like a leech, one who only would cause harm and damage to prolong existence in the most corrupt way. but he sings, i live in silence. these two lyrics together are different from simply saying, i hurt everything i know, im just corrupt--there's a sense of sadness and loneliness in him, and that there was once something beautiful. if he lives in silence, why is this song loud and screaming? this is the screams of torment inside his mind.
and a virus is nothing without a host, a virus feeds in a corrupt manner upon something else, someone-- and he lives in silence. its the tragedy of isolation, its the tragedy of hating the characteristics of your existence-- and that once you tried to reach the sky, and was so close.
"Its the tragedy of hating the characteristics of your existence"<br /> <br /> Dude that hit me square in the guts, just like this song!