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 think I'm drowning
Asphyxiated
I wanna break the spell
That you've created
You're something beautiful
A contradiction
I wanna play the game
I want the friction
You will be the death of me
Yeah, you will be the death of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
And our time is running out
And our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
I wanted freedom
Bound and restricted
I tried to give you up
But I'm addicted
Now that you know I'm trapped
Sense of elation
You'd never dream of
Breaking this fixation
You will squeeze the life out of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
And our time is running out
And our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
How did it come to this?
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh, yeah, yeah, oh yeah, yeah
Yeah, you will suck the life out of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
And our time is running out
And our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
How did it come to this?
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh, yeah, yeah, oh yeah, yeah
Asphyxiated
I wanna break the spell
That you've created
You're something beautiful
A contradiction
I wanna play the game
I want the friction
You will be the death of me
Yeah, you will be the death of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
And our time is running out
And our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
I wanted freedom
Bound and restricted
I tried to give you up
But I'm addicted
Now that you know I'm trapped
Sense of elation
You'd never dream of
Breaking this fixation
You will squeeze the life out of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
And our time is running out
And our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
How did it come to this?
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh, yeah, yeah, oh yeah, yeah
Yeah, you will suck the life out of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
And our time is running out
And our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
How did it come to this?
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh, yeah, yeah, oh yeah, yeah
Lyrics submitted by Jahannan, edited by windhi
Time Is Running Out Lyrics as written by Matthew James Bellamy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
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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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Muse is a smart band. A woman would be obvious. Too obvious for this band. And drugs would be way too elementary for these kinds of lyrics.
In my opinion, Time is Running Out, is a message to the "Man".
"I think I'm drowning.. I wanna break this spell you've created" - this could be referring to controversies that revolve around the government and how they control things like the media to "brainwash" citizens.
"You're something beautiful.. A contradiction.. I wanna play the game.. I want the friction"
I think it makes sense this way and I applaud the band for the beautiful, lyrical poetry. If you're interested to know my opinion about the other parts of the song, just reply me.
wow i commented just now and i truthfully hadnt looked at your comment but seemed to come to the same conclusion you did... just with more words
@amused1 I also think the song is not for a woman or about drugs. It's for US just like Undisclosed Desires for example and these are my faves songs it's so strong and powerful and different and they are right! Our time is running out and we truly have to challenge ourselves