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.
Seven hours 'til the moon sleeps
I lose my mind as I drive away
Your cigarettes are in the backseat
I can't bring myself to throw away
All of the film from the camera
I took all pictures of the images in my mind
So I'll drive a straight line
When I cross the stateline
Out into the ocean
In a moment I'll be gone
You won't have to feel torn
Passed the churches full of gilded faith
Nursing their hangovers from last night
It won't do me any good to pray
'Cause even god knows that you were right
And I was wrong but yet it kills me
When my kid will never know me
With another man by his side
So I'll drive a straight line
When I cross the stateline
Out into the ocean
In a moment I'll be gone
You won't have to feel torn
Thinking of you with my last breath
I lose my mind as I drive away
Your cigarettes are in the backseat
I can't bring myself to throw away
All of the film from the camera
I took all pictures of the images in my mind
So I'll drive a straight line
When I cross the stateline
Out into the ocean
In a moment I'll be gone
You won't have to feel torn
Passed the churches full of gilded faith
Nursing their hangovers from last night
It won't do me any good to pray
'Cause even god knows that you were right
And I was wrong but yet it kills me
When my kid will never know me
With another man by his side
So I'll drive a straight line
When I cross the stateline
Out into the ocean
In a moment I'll be gone
You won't have to feel torn
Thinking of you with my last breath
Lyrics submitted by BlueAndStarry
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
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.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
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.
this song is so awesome, and its nice how it sounds more raw than the others. Anyways, im guesing this ong is about him leaving behind a girl, probably because he messed up, and got her pregnant - "my kidll never know me" - but wasnt father material. he might mean sorting out his life, staying sober? clean? something like that by the phrase "so ill drive a straight line" He also implies that he wont ever forget about her, or his relationship.
I can't believe this only has one comment. Probably my favourite Butch Walker song, although it's difficult to choose...
I love the way the instrumentation builds up throughout the song, his voice sounds really raw and the ending is beautiful. 'You won't have to feel torn'... that line makes me shiver.
Butch introduces the song by saying that he wrote it for his friend.
"thinking of you with my last breath."
this is definitely my favorite butch walker song. i love that it's the hidden track...
it's about his friend who had a kid with his wife but she kicked him out before the kids were born.
agreed with "cutie".... his friend got kicked out of her life, and he knows he can never go back, but it kills him that he'll never know his kids
I think it's also implied that he's committing suicide. I mean, I suppose that's obvious, but driving into the Ocean (presumably across the California state line) would, you know, kill him.
Never even really thought of that... <br /> along with the last line "thinking of you with my last breath" <br /> definitely makes sense... such a sad song. I love Butch so much.
I agree with "cutie" too. On which cd is it as an hidden track? But I with "Tiggsy" because it sounds a bit like he's going to kill himself.