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 secrets that we keep
We say them in our sleep
And wrestle down our souls if we would speak
I watched you board a train in the London rain
And waved bye-bye as you slipped out of view
Diane
We'll make it out together
In your dreams when the smile now comes,
You're mumbling words with a lazy tongue.
We lie together when we say its love,
Who were you just thinking of, Diane?
Diane
Diane, I don't say it, but I know you know
The theme returns so deep
And visits us in sleep
To define the you and I as we
So we pass the time and occupy our minds
And close our eyes and hope that we'll be fine
Diane
We'll make it out together
And I may leave in time you'll see
I'll come right back for you
We say them in our sleep
And wrestle down our souls if we would speak
I watched you board a train in the London rain
And waved bye-bye as you slipped out of view
Diane
We'll make it out together
In your dreams when the smile now comes,
You're mumbling words with a lazy tongue.
We lie together when we say its love,
Who were you just thinking of, Diane?
Diane
Diane, I don't say it, but I know you know
The theme returns so deep
And visits us in sleep
To define the you and I as we
So we pass the time and occupy our minds
And close our eyes and hope that we'll be fine
Diane
We'll make it out together
And I may leave in time you'll see
I'll come right back for you
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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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i think it's about two people who are together just because they don't want to be alone. when he says "the fear returns so deep", etc., he's talking about the fear of being single. they are both afraid of being alone, so they both latched onto each other, and aren't sure now if they really love each other or if it's just because they each need someone or a relationship to feel complete.
when he says "we close our eyes and hope that we'll be fine", he is saying that both of them know there's a possibility they don't really love each other, but they are turning a blind eye to it in the hope that maybe they really are in love.