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.
Awaken to a world devoid of hope and faith
I don't want to look anymore
I turn it off but it won't go away
The pain of a high school end
The rest in a young suicide
The media drawing in
An escape from a young girl's life
From a young girl's life.
And we're falling further every day
Now our tallest towers sway
I'm holding on in this world of decay
And I've realized that
[Chorus]
This is anything but beautiful
Anything but beautiful
This is anything but beautiful
Anything but beautiful
Awaken to a day
The fear in the eyes of a boy
The cold of a hospital stay
Where a child is a cancer's toy
And if the angel for the lord
Is the angel with the sword
I don't believe that anymore
I just don't believe that
Still holding on for a chance to be strong
Falling further every day
Now our tallest towers sway
I'm holding on in this world of decay
And I've realized
[Chorus]
Somebody hold my eyes closed
Somebody make the snow and the rain
One step from the fall don't you know
Looking for heaven but the light never came
Somebody keep my head turned
Give me a soul for a piece of the wire
I came for a god but it all burned down
In the fire
Falling further everyday
Now our deepest oceans dry
We've holding on in this world
Of decay
I've realized
Open your eyes
This is anything but beautiful
This is anything but beautiful
Anything but beautiful
A world anything but beautiful
Anything but
Anything but
Anything but beautiful
Anything but
Anything but beautiful
Anything but
Anything but beautiful
Anything but beautiful
I don't want to look anymore
I turn it off but it won't go away
The pain of a high school end
The rest in a young suicide
The media drawing in
An escape from a young girl's life
From a young girl's life.
And we're falling further every day
Now our tallest towers sway
I'm holding on in this world of decay
And I've realized that
[Chorus]
This is anything but beautiful
Anything but beautiful
This is anything but beautiful
Anything but beautiful
Awaken to a day
The fear in the eyes of a boy
The cold of a hospital stay
Where a child is a cancer's toy
And if the angel for the lord
Is the angel with the sword
I don't believe that anymore
I just don't believe that
Still holding on for a chance to be strong
Falling further every day
Now our tallest towers sway
I'm holding on in this world of decay
And I've realized
[Chorus]
Somebody hold my eyes closed
Somebody make the snow and the rain
One step from the fall don't you know
Looking for heaven but the light never came
Somebody keep my head turned
Give me a soul for a piece of the wire
I came for a god but it all burned down
In the fire
Falling further everyday
Now our deepest oceans dry
We've holding on in this world
Of decay
I've realized
Open your eyes
This is anything but beautiful
This is anything but beautiful
Anything but beautiful
A world anything but beautiful
Anything but
Anything but
Anything but beautiful
Anything but
Anything but beautiful
Anything but
Anything but beautiful
Anything but beautiful
Lyrics submitted by judaskissidismiss
Anything But Beautiful Lyrics as written by Joseph A. Hedges
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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