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.
When passion's lost
And all the trust is gone
Way too far, for way too long
Children crying, cast out and neglected
Only in a world so cold
Only in a world this cold
Hold the hand of your best friend
Look into their eyes
Then watch them drift away
Some might say, we've done the wrong things
For way too long, for way too long
Fever inside the storm
So I'm turning away
Away from the name (calling your names)
Away from the stones (throw sticks and stones)
'Cause I'm through mending the wounds of us
Keep your thorns
'Cause I'm running away
Away from the games (fucking head games)
Away from the space (hate this head space)
The circumstances of a world so cold
Burning whispers remind me of the days
I was left alone in a world this cold
Guilty of the same things, provoked by the cause
I've left alone in a world so cold
Fever inside the storm
So I'm turning away
Away from the name (calling your names)
Away from the stones (throw sticks and stones)
'Cause I'm through mending the wounds of us
Keep your thorns
'Cause I'm running away
Away from the games (fucking head games)
Away from the space (hate this head space)
The circumstances of a world so cold
Oh, I'm flying, I'm flying away
Away from the names (calling your names)
Away from the games (fucking head games)
The circumstances of a world so cold
Why does everyone feel like my enemy?
Don't want any part of depression or darkness
I've had enough
Sick and tired, bring the sun
Or I'm gone, or I'm gone
I'm backing out, I'm no pawn
No motherfucking slave to this
Never lied, never left, never lived, never loved
Never lost, never hurt, never worry about being me, or anyone else
Not a care, no concern
Don't give a shit about anything
Backing out, giving in
No motherfucking slave to this
Never lied, never left, never lived, never loved
Never lost, never hurt, never worry about being me, or anyone else
Not a care, no concern
Don't give a shit about anything
I need to find a darkened corner
A lightless corner
Where it's safer and calmer
I'm turning away
Away from the name (calling your names)
Away from the stones (throw sticks and stones)
'Cause I'm through mending the wounds of us
I'm running away
Away from the games (fucking head games)
Away from the space (hate this head space)
The circumstances of a world so cold
I'm flying, I'm flying away
Away from the names (calling your names)
Away from the games (fucking head games)
The circumstances of a world so cold
And all the trust is gone
Way too far, for way too long
Children crying, cast out and neglected
Only in a world so cold
Only in a world this cold
Hold the hand of your best friend
Look into their eyes
Then watch them drift away
Some might say, we've done the wrong things
For way too long, for way too long
Fever inside the storm
So I'm turning away
Away from the name (calling your names)
Away from the stones (throw sticks and stones)
'Cause I'm through mending the wounds of us
Keep your thorns
'Cause I'm running away
Away from the games (fucking head games)
Away from the space (hate this head space)
The circumstances of a world so cold
Burning whispers remind me of the days
I was left alone in a world this cold
Guilty of the same things, provoked by the cause
I've left alone in a world so cold
Fever inside the storm
So I'm turning away
Away from the name (calling your names)
Away from the stones (throw sticks and stones)
'Cause I'm through mending the wounds of us
Keep your thorns
'Cause I'm running away
Away from the games (fucking head games)
Away from the space (hate this head space)
The circumstances of a world so cold
Oh, I'm flying, I'm flying away
Away from the names (calling your names)
Away from the games (fucking head games)
The circumstances of a world so cold
Why does everyone feel like my enemy?
Don't want any part of depression or darkness
I've had enough
Sick and tired, bring the sun
Or I'm gone, or I'm gone
I'm backing out, I'm no pawn
No motherfucking slave to this
Never lied, never left, never lived, never loved
Never lost, never hurt, never worry about being me, or anyone else
Not a care, no concern
Don't give a shit about anything
Backing out, giving in
No motherfucking slave to this
Never lied, never left, never lived, never loved
Never lost, never hurt, never worry about being me, or anyone else
Not a care, no concern
Don't give a shit about anything
I need to find a darkened corner
A lightless corner
Where it's safer and calmer
I'm turning away
Away from the name (calling your names)
Away from the stones (throw sticks and stones)
'Cause I'm through mending the wounds of us
I'm running away
Away from the games (fucking head games)
Away from the space (hate this head space)
The circumstances of a world so cold
I'm flying, I'm flying away
Away from the names (calling your names)
Away from the games (fucking head games)
The circumstances of a world so cold
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
i dont know why no one has put up anything on this song, there is so much to say. not to mention the fact that the radio almost ruined the song by cutting it down. i love this song, it reminds me of a time when two of my friends died in a car crash. something that i wont ever forget, this song will help me with that.