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.
That ain't a parachute
That ain't a rip cord
That ain't a body of water
We?re headed for
there's so little time left
So much to be done
Even you are gonna need someone
That ain't a trick of light
Or the morning haze
Coming in from the lake
Getting into your eyes
It?s the invisible breath
Of a storm on the rise
That I feel whenever you arrive
Now I may not be quick
Maybe never was
But tell me what the hell it is
That you've become
Baby if you never got sick
I wouldn't get to hold you
Baby if you never got sick
I would never get to hold you
This ain't a righteous love
Even a good one
These ain't the kinds of return
That I was thinking of
I'm unbearable now
You ain't seen nothing yet
you'll se me dead
Before you see me quit
That ain't a jug of wine
That you've been drinking from
Now lay back now baby
Let your fever come
I will bury you in
Just to dig you out
I haven't a use
For being proud
[chorus]
I followed you deep into a barren field
There was someone you were running from
When I needed to sleep
that's when you disappeared
But I did get the impossible done
Now I always knew
There was God inside you
I just never did learn which one
[chorus]
That ain't a rip cord
That ain't a body of water
We?re headed for
there's so little time left
So much to be done
Even you are gonna need someone
That ain't a trick of light
Or the morning haze
Coming in from the lake
Getting into your eyes
It?s the invisible breath
Of a storm on the rise
That I feel whenever you arrive
Now I may not be quick
Maybe never was
But tell me what the hell it is
That you've become
Baby if you never got sick
I wouldn't get to hold you
Baby if you never got sick
I would never get to hold you
This ain't a righteous love
Even a good one
These ain't the kinds of return
That I was thinking of
I'm unbearable now
You ain't seen nothing yet
you'll se me dead
Before you see me quit
That ain't a jug of wine
That you've been drinking from
Now lay back now baby
Let your fever come
I will bury you in
Just to dig you out
I haven't a use
For being proud
[chorus]
I followed you deep into a barren field
There was someone you were running from
When I needed to sleep
that's when you disappeared
But I did get the impossible done
Now I always knew
There was God inside you
I just never did learn which one
[chorus]
Lyrics submitted by planetearth
If You Never Got Sick Lyrics as written by Jakob Dylan
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"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.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Awesome song, but the pre-chorus for the second verse is missing.
Sorry, that's how the lyrics are listed in the liner notes that come with the CD. I corrected the part before the chorus and the other verse. I think I got the words right, but it's hard to tell.
I've always loved this song, but I don't think that I ever really understood it until last night. I was at the Wallflowers concert in Cleveland and for whatever reason I just had an epiphany about it.
this song is about someone who is strong and doesn't allow their partner to ever take care of them. When they start to get sick, their partner sees it as an opportunity to finally be there for them.
There’s so little time left So much to be done Even you are going to need someone
I will bury you in Just to dig you out I haven’t a use For being proud
he doesn't care about being proud... he just wants to take care of his partner (who normally won't allow any help) and help them feel better. :-)
I'll agree with that. I'm actually a lot like that partner, not allowing help or anything, until I'm sick and I can't be independent any longer.
i agree that this song is about not being able to help a strong partner until they're sick, but i get a vibe that it's almost like the person singing is trying to MAKE the other person sick or weak...
I think I made a mistake I think I pushed when you said wait But I never get to hold you
It almost sounds to me like the person was so tired of not being able to take care of their partner that they felt the only way they could do it is if they made their partner feel weak or incompitent.
This song paints a different picture for me.
I see a disintegrating relationship with an emotionally damaged woman. She goes to him for physical comfort. He's so infatuated that he's eager just to be used.
He knew her before, and picked her up when she was on the rebound. Now he's doomed to be the rebound guy. If he had waited, maybe they could have had something. But then if he had waited, maybe he wouldn't have gotten anything.
It took me a while to get the imagery. The parachute is referencing the relationship, about to crash and burn. With the "jug of wine," he says she's using him; drinking his blood. The barren field is the loveless place she's gone after a failed relationship. No good comes from following somebody there.
What I find gripping is on one hand his awareness of the doomed, destructive nature of the relationship and on the other his powerlessness in the face of his lust and emotion. He never talks about her qualities, just the feeling that grips him. Despite all his critical awareness, he can hope: Even you are going to need someone.