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.
Sing with me child, as my ears are bleeding,
The dreams that have now seem so fleeting,
Still your cradle, with no effort sways,
Where this monochromatic record is played,
And I'll purse my lips and blow kisses goodbye,
It's so easy if you never ask yourself why,
My lungs will contract and give up a brief sigh,
Shall we say an appendage has finally died?
Or is it easier to go on with a smile,
With flattering ease, and talk for a while,
Words fall from your mouth and are lost on the floor,
And I can't go on singing anymore
Oh the tale you tell, oh the web that you've spun,
And the salt that was sprinkled on the things that you have done,
Makes the anger oh so sweet, makes the world fall at your feet,
Makes the pity that you pour over your head quite a treat,
So go ahead and cry, and go ahead and lie,
Begin every sentence that you vomit with “I”,
And then Jesus will forgive you, but oh what can I do,
To see if there's enough forgiveness left for me
But in all of Israel, father did you see someone who seeks himself so perfectly,
The Pharisees would be content at the sight of me,
The snakes would wrap around me and we'd dance across the sea,
To ridicule you there and to spit upon your face,
Unsheathe this wicked tongue, and invite disgrace,
Isn't that the goal that I've always pursued?
While I beg you, father, to be used for you
Under a light in Bethlehem I was sifting through the sand,
The saline burned my eyes, I was looking for your hand,
I gave up on myself, and left this pride disarmed,
I cried out “I'm alone!” and found myself in your arms
Rest in me oh my love,
I have loved you before the world began,
Rest in me oh my love,
You will never to wander too far to reach my hand,
Did they not murder you?
Did they not see you die?
Hanging on a tree as the life had left your eyes,
Did we not torture you?
Smiling as you died,
Or is it that you killed death itself, and now you are alive?
I won't find you there, lying with yourself,
Sleep under a rock until your mouth is full of insects,
I won't look for you, praying to your ceiling,
Swallow every snake and sing of your mistakes,
Put lipstick on your mirror,
Cry into your hands
The dreams that have now seem so fleeting,
Still your cradle, with no effort sways,
Where this monochromatic record is played,
And I'll purse my lips and blow kisses goodbye,
It's so easy if you never ask yourself why,
My lungs will contract and give up a brief sigh,
Shall we say an appendage has finally died?
Or is it easier to go on with a smile,
With flattering ease, and talk for a while,
Words fall from your mouth and are lost on the floor,
And I can't go on singing anymore
Oh the tale you tell, oh the web that you've spun,
And the salt that was sprinkled on the things that you have done,
Makes the anger oh so sweet, makes the world fall at your feet,
Makes the pity that you pour over your head quite a treat,
So go ahead and cry, and go ahead and lie,
Begin every sentence that you vomit with “I”,
And then Jesus will forgive you, but oh what can I do,
To see if there's enough forgiveness left for me
But in all of Israel, father did you see someone who seeks himself so perfectly,
The Pharisees would be content at the sight of me,
The snakes would wrap around me and we'd dance across the sea,
To ridicule you there and to spit upon your face,
Unsheathe this wicked tongue, and invite disgrace,
Isn't that the goal that I've always pursued?
While I beg you, father, to be used for you
Under a light in Bethlehem I was sifting through the sand,
The saline burned my eyes, I was looking for your hand,
I gave up on myself, and left this pride disarmed,
I cried out “I'm alone!” and found myself in your arms
Rest in me oh my love,
I have loved you before the world began,
Rest in me oh my love,
You will never to wander too far to reach my hand,
Did they not murder you?
Did they not see you die?
Hanging on a tree as the life had left your eyes,
Did we not torture you?
Smiling as you died,
Or is it that you killed death itself, and now you are alive?
I won't find you there, lying with yourself,
Sleep under a rock until your mouth is full of insects,
I won't look for you, praying to your ceiling,
Swallow every snake and sing of your mistakes,
Put lipstick on your mirror,
Cry into your hands
Lyrics submitted by amestheamazing
And the Smokers and Children Shall Be Cast Down Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
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