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.
Dark room opens
No light for years
No way to find out
How long has it been
Screams heard from a distance
The shredding sounds of pain
Looking for reasons
Slowly becoming insane
Four eyes staring
Such evil eyes
Picturing them
No longer alive
Accidental
Unintentional
Years ago
There was loss of control
Constant horrific nightmares
Life turned into a deadly maze
The haunting sounds play on
No more bruised feelings
Can it shine through this?
Will it ever shine
The pictures in the gold room
No light
Can be this bright
Death is only a way
Desire and temptation
I lost you
False hope and rejection
Revenge and repercussion
Rejection, revenge, false hope
Repercussion fade to extinction
No way to explain
The blame has to be given
A wrongful accusation
Only stirs the rage
A fire that cannot be put out
Can only enjoy the insanity
To become the nightmares
Will end the dreams
Cold winter chills
No escape
Will this ever end
This is the final maze
No light for years
No way to find out
How long has it been
Screams heard from a distance
The shredding sounds of pain
Looking for reasons
Slowly becoming insane
Four eyes staring
Such evil eyes
Picturing them
No longer alive
Accidental
Unintentional
Years ago
There was loss of control
Constant horrific nightmares
Life turned into a deadly maze
The haunting sounds play on
No more bruised feelings
Can it shine through this?
Will it ever shine
The pictures in the gold room
No light
Can be this bright
Death is only a way
Desire and temptation
I lost you
False hope and rejection
Revenge and repercussion
Rejection, revenge, false hope
Repercussion fade to extinction
No way to explain
The blame has to be given
A wrongful accusation
Only stirs the rage
A fire that cannot be put out
Can only enjoy the insanity
To become the nightmares
Will end the dreams
Cold winter chills
No escape
Will this ever end
This is the final maze
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
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
Yep, said in The Dehumanizing Process DVD that it was written about a scene in The Shinning.