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.
Paint my face in your magazines
Make it look whiter than it seems
Paint me over with your dreams
Shove away my ethnicity
Burn every notion that I
May have a flame inside to fight
And say just what is on my mind
Without offending your might
'Cause this life is too short
To live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless
What are you gonna do?
So say what you want
Say what you want
I saw her face outside today
Weatherworn, lookin' all the rage
Took her passion and her gaze
And made a poster
Now it's moccasins we sport
We take the culture and contort
Perhaps only to distort
What we are hidin'
'Cause this life is too short
To live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless
What are you gonna do?
But say what you want
Say what you want
Say, say
Hey you, the one, the one outside
Are you gonna get in, get in?
Hey you, the one that don't fit in
How you, how you gonna get in?
Hey you, the one outside
Are you ever gonna get in with your
Broken teeth, broken jaw, broken mojo?
Yeah, this life is too short
To live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless
What are you gonna do?
'Cause this life is too short
To live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless
What are you gonna do?
'Cause this life is too short
To live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless
What are you gonna do?
Say what you want (life is too short)
Say what you want
Say what you want (just for you)
Say what you want
Say what you want (feel powerless)
Say what you want
Say, say, say, say, yeah (gonna do)
(Life is too short)
(Just for you)
(Feel powerless)
(Gonna do)
Make it look whiter than it seems
Paint me over with your dreams
Shove away my ethnicity
Burn every notion that I
May have a flame inside to fight
And say just what is on my mind
Without offending your might
'Cause this life is too short
To live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless
What are you gonna do?
So say what you want
Say what you want
I saw her face outside today
Weatherworn, lookin' all the rage
Took her passion and her gaze
And made a poster
Now it's moccasins we sport
We take the culture and contort
Perhaps only to distort
What we are hidin'
'Cause this life is too short
To live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless
What are you gonna do?
But say what you want
Say what you want
Say, say
Hey you, the one, the one outside
Are you gonna get in, get in?
Hey you, the one that don't fit in
How you, how you gonna get in?
Hey you, the one outside
Are you ever gonna get in with your
Broken teeth, broken jaw, broken mojo?
Yeah, this life is too short
To live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless
What are you gonna do?
'Cause this life is too short
To live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless
What are you gonna do?
'Cause this life is too short
To live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless
What are you gonna do?
Say what you want (life is too short)
Say what you want
Say what you want (just for you)
Say what you want
Say what you want (feel powerless)
Say what you want
Say, say, say, say, yeah (gonna do)
(Life is too short)
(Just for you)
(Feel powerless)
(Gonna do)
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
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.
Cajun Girl
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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”
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
When We Were Young
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Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Nitts: you're an idiot. but since you're only five years old I'll forgive you.