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.
Gonna take a meteor shower
Lay me out on the lawn
With one detective's daughter
Nth power, shine on
And maybe my verses
Ain't that free
'Cause there'll be no more poetry
Taurus is a great big bull
He hid my heart out in the woods
The heavens move so slow
But I'm quick and good
And you don't have to be poor
To hang with me
'Cause there'll be no more poetry
There's a God-shaped hole
Bleeding love up above
And in my heart full of soul
I just can't seem to get enough
And you don't have to be poor
To hang with me
'Cause there'll be no more poetry
Cut it up, cut it up
Fill it up, fill it up
And you don't have to see me
To be free
'Cause there'll be no more poetry
Lyrics submitted by keyz48
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I think Jeff is saying that the subtleties and beauty of the written word and creative thought are basically dead. From a third person POV.
"Gonna take a meteor shower/ To lay me out on the lawn"
IMO he's saying that this person can't sit out and just look at the stars and enjoy himself. That an exciting phenomenon like a meteor shower is the only thing that can hold his attention if forced to stare out into the night.
"Taurus is a great big bull/He ate my heart out in the woods"
I think that these are the correct lyrics. Obviously Taurus is referring to the zodiac sign...the bull. "He ate my heart out in the woods"...IMO he's trying to spice up a story with a grisly and attention grabbing act instead of looking at the cosmic meaning of Taurus.
"The Heavens move so slow/but I'm quick and good"
The Heavens being astrology, he's saying that it's kinda boring, but his quick change of turning Taurus into a man eating bull is "quick and good"...showing an arrogance about his storytelling skills.
"Cut it up, cut it up/Fill it up, fill it up"
Editing his story, and filling it up with more attention grabbing aka crappy material.
And with the chorus - "And maybe my verses aint that free" , "You don't have to be poor to hang with me", "You don't have to see me to be free"....references to when poetry was powerful, many poets had relatively meager amounts of money, and would hold free readings so people could enjoy the spirtual and creative meanings of a well written story/poem/etc.