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.
Reigning at the feast of Phantasia
Heightened pleasures were endeavoured to bow
Before My coronation and vocal aspirations
To rule this fool creation fallen ‘neath Me now
I knew deep eyes
Of a distant Christ
Were scarred from afar under starry lustre
Sighting my recitals on the rites of vice
Perverting Virtue
Enslaving grace
Behind the glittering mask of pride
Saving face finding thorns to pierce
His side
Desire, the fire
Spread hell throughout my soul
And higher the wire
The more I sought control
Straining from the leash in exultation
Head to the wind to breathe with ravenous lungs
The global scent of fornication
A writhe of many vipers deciphering tongues
I whispered schemes to dreamers then
To pursue an Eden
That screamed of me supreme again
As my world bloomed
So too the moon
Through Adam to Seth,Enos,Cainan
Mahalaleel and Jared blew
Perverting virtue
Enslaving grace
Behind the slippery guise of lies
Saving face making waves to drown their faith
Messiahs, pariahs
Aeons reversed the two
Thus higher, their sprites
The more cursed grew their roots
And suffering…
I swept cruel seas
On the galley of the shadow of death
A fist in the cunt of the spread horizon
A kiss for the sun risen red once dined on
The coast of Menses
Discharged from celestial wombs
A first degree murder of ravens
Followed in fugue through the crack of doom
The Goat of Mendes
I set regime
In the galley of the shadow of death
Angels in raiments
As pure as coal
Taking their payments
In tortured mortal souls
A bold direction
The abyss edge
But on cold reflection
One they warmed to nonetheless
As they preyed the paths of the righteous
Through the myth of thistled orchard floors
Bearing gifts of plenitude, for
The apples of the Lord were rotten to the core
Temptation, My ambassador
Attila, Herod, Pharisees and Nero
All begged of Me for more
Down dark steps of history
I waged a war with a Heaven
I could not see…
Beyond My wildest fantasies
Throwing sixes over deadly sin
I traded those who played to win
Skin for precious skin…
And that that wormed within
Staining the reams of revelation
Etching ever-afters in accursed verse
The limpid rags of resurrection
From papal parapets were to dirt dispersed
Desire, the flyers
Spread Hell throughout their souls
And higher the fire
The more I held control
Heightened pleasures were endeavoured to bow
Before My coronation and vocal aspirations
To rule this fool creation fallen ‘neath Me now
I knew deep eyes
Of a distant Christ
Were scarred from afar under starry lustre
Sighting my recitals on the rites of vice
Perverting Virtue
Enslaving grace
Behind the glittering mask of pride
Saving face finding thorns to pierce
His side
Desire, the fire
Spread hell throughout my soul
And higher the wire
The more I sought control
Straining from the leash in exultation
Head to the wind to breathe with ravenous lungs
The global scent of fornication
A writhe of many vipers deciphering tongues
I whispered schemes to dreamers then
To pursue an Eden
That screamed of me supreme again
As my world bloomed
So too the moon
Through Adam to Seth,Enos,Cainan
Mahalaleel and Jared blew
Perverting virtue
Enslaving grace
Behind the slippery guise of lies
Saving face making waves to drown their faith
Messiahs, pariahs
Aeons reversed the two
Thus higher, their sprites
The more cursed grew their roots
And suffering…
I swept cruel seas
On the galley of the shadow of death
A fist in the cunt of the spread horizon
A kiss for the sun risen red once dined on
The coast of Menses
Discharged from celestial wombs
A first degree murder of ravens
Followed in fugue through the crack of doom
The Goat of Mendes
I set regime
In the galley of the shadow of death
Angels in raiments
As pure as coal
Taking their payments
In tortured mortal souls
A bold direction
The abyss edge
But on cold reflection
One they warmed to nonetheless
As they preyed the paths of the righteous
Through the myth of thistled orchard floors
Bearing gifts of plenitude, for
The apples of the Lord were rotten to the core
Temptation, My ambassador
Attila, Herod, Pharisees and Nero
All begged of Me for more
Down dark steps of history
I waged a war with a Heaven
I could not see…
Beyond My wildest fantasies
Throwing sixes over deadly sin
I traded those who played to win
Skin for precious skin…
And that that wormed within
Staining the reams of revelation
Etching ever-afters in accursed verse
The limpid rags of resurrection
From papal parapets were to dirt dispersed
Desire, the flyers
Spread Hell throughout their souls
And higher the fire
The more I held control
Lyrics submitted by Dying_In_Vain
Presents From The Poison-Hearted Lyrics as written by Dani Davey Paul James Allender
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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