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.
1-2-3
Drop it
Bones in the water and dust in my lungs
Absorbing archaic like a sponge
The ultimate way is the way you control
But can you stay if you detach your soul?
Bury the present and squeeze out the past
The ones you endear to never last
Chemical burns and the animalistic
I'm just another headline pseudo-statistic
Can you feel this?
I'm dyin' to feel this
Can you feel this?
Blood on the paper and skin on my teeth
Tryin' to commit to what's beneath
To find the time is to lose the momentum
You learn the lessons and immediately forget them
Automatic and out of my reach
Consult all the waste to find the key
Minimal life and the polysyllabic
I'm just another blank page, push the button, pull the rage
Can you feel this?
I'm dyin' to feel this
Can you feel this?
I am all, but what am I?
Another number that isn't equal to any of you
I control but I comply
Pick me apart, then pick up the pieces
I'm uneven
I am the damaged one
All my life and the damage done
I am the damaged one
All my life and the damage done
I am the damaged one
All my life and the damage done
I am the damaged one
All my life and the damage done
Can you feel this?
I'm dyin' to feel this
Can you feel this?
I'm dyin' to feel this
Can you feel this?
I'm dyin' to feel this
Can you feel this?
I am all but what am I?
Another number that isn't equal to any of you
I control but I comply
Pick me apart, then pick up the pieces
I'm uneven
I am all but what am I?
Another number that isn't equal to any of you
I control but I comply
Pick me apart, then pick up the pieces
I'm uneven
Drop it
Bones in the water and dust in my lungs
Absorbing archaic like a sponge
The ultimate way is the way you control
But can you stay if you detach your soul?
Bury the present and squeeze out the past
The ones you endear to never last
Chemical burns and the animalistic
I'm just another headline pseudo-statistic
Can you feel this?
I'm dyin' to feel this
Can you feel this?
Blood on the paper and skin on my teeth
Tryin' to commit to what's beneath
To find the time is to lose the momentum
You learn the lessons and immediately forget them
Automatic and out of my reach
Consult all the waste to find the key
Minimal life and the polysyllabic
I'm just another blank page, push the button, pull the rage
Can you feel this?
I'm dyin' to feel this
Can you feel this?
I am all, but what am I?
Another number that isn't equal to any of you
I control but I comply
Pick me apart, then pick up the pieces
I'm uneven
I am the damaged one
All my life and the damage done
I am the damaged one
All my life and the damage done
I am the damaged one
All my life and the damage done
I am the damaged one
All my life and the damage done
Can you feel this?
I'm dyin' to feel this
Can you feel this?
I'm dyin' to feel this
Can you feel this?
I'm dyin' to feel this
Can you feel this?
I am all but what am I?
Another number that isn't equal to any of you
I control but I comply
Pick me apart, then pick up the pieces
I'm uneven
I am all but what am I?
Another number that isn't equal to any of you
I control but I comply
Pick me apart, then pick up the pieces
I'm uneven
Lyrics submitted by thienosaurus
The Blister Exists Lyrics as written by Christopher Fehn Chris Fehn
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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No Surprises
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Amazing
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I think this song is about overcoming stereotypes and not conforming and whatnot, but that's not all. I also think it's about the characters struggle to find who he is while other people are trying to tell him who to be. The verses are sort of the struggle to me and the chorus is his realization that he doesn't have to find out who he is. He is who he is and that's that. He's not unequal to anyone. Everyone keeps saying that the character is telling people that he's better than them, but I think he is telling them that everyone is equal and individual. He's also saying that if he appears to conform, it's because what he is conforming to supports his views, not his piers'. It's really an epic of someone who realizes that he just needs to do what he wants and fuck everyone else. As a last thought, the sort of militaristic drum sequences in the song I think represent conforming.