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.
Well I know that you know
That you've become the target of this hand
With never even asking
Well I know that you know
That you're the only thing that I can stand
So how could your hair
Have the nerve to dance around like that, blowing?
And how could the air
Have the nerve to blow your hair around like that?
I'm waiting for a ninety-mile water wall
To take me out of your home view
I'm looking for a trap door trigger
To drop me out of your home view
Yes I'm listening, I'm listening
I can tell that you are serious
Your looking for that hurt look around my mouth
The look of a steep fall
Oh, well, that's how Hersey put it
So you can make another claim
Well go ahead and make it
So you can make another claim
Well go ahead and make it
I'm just waiting for a ninety-mile water wall
To take me out of your home view
I'm praying for a trap door trigger
I'm just waiting for a ninety-mile water wall
To take me out of your home view
I'm praying for a trap door trigger
Yes I'm listening
I can tell you're serious
That you've become the target of this hand
With never even asking
Well I know that you know
That you're the only thing that I can stand
So how could your hair
Have the nerve to dance around like that, blowing?
And how could the air
Have the nerve to blow your hair around like that?
I'm waiting for a ninety-mile water wall
To take me out of your home view
I'm looking for a trap door trigger
To drop me out of your home view
Yes I'm listening, I'm listening
I can tell that you are serious
Your looking for that hurt look around my mouth
The look of a steep fall
Oh, well, that's how Hersey put it
So you can make another claim
Well go ahead and make it
So you can make another claim
Well go ahead and make it
I'm just waiting for a ninety-mile water wall
To take me out of your home view
I'm praying for a trap door trigger
I'm just waiting for a ninety-mile water wall
To take me out of your home view
I'm praying for a trap door trigger
Yes I'm listening
I can tell you're serious
Lyrics submitted by SomethingClever
90-Mile Water Wall Lyrics as written by Matthew Berninger Aaron Dessner
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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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Another Sad song. I assume it's about a girl, from the line about hair- such a telling line. How can your hair have the nerve to dance around like that.
Lots of pent up feelings are behind this song, and the smallest thing can annoy you, such as her hair moving in the wind- somthing she can't control.
I don't believe he loves himself. And if you can't love yourself, how can anybody love you? he's pushing her away, hurting the one he loves, she's the target of his hand.
He knows it's over, she's serious. And he knows it his fault, because of who he is.