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.
When I was a young boy I tried to listen
And I want to feel like that
Little white shadows blink and missed them
Part of the system, I am
If you ever feel like something's missing
Things you'll never understand
Little white shadows sparkle and glisten
Part of a system, a plan
All this noise, I'm waking up
All this space I'm taking up
All this sound is breaking up
Whoa oh
Maybe you'll get what you wanted
Maybe you'll stumble upon it
Everything you ever wanted
In a permanent state
Maybe you'll know when you see it
Maybe if you say it you'll mean it
And when you find it you'll keep it
In a permanent state
A permanent state
When I was a young boy I tried to listen
Don't you wanna feel like that
You're part of the human race
All of the stars and the outer space
Part of the system plan
All this noise, I'm waking up
All this space I'm taking up
I cannot hear, you're breaking up
Whoa oh
Maybe you'll get what you wanted
Maybe you'll stumble upon it
Everything you ever wanted
In a permanent state
Maybe you'll know when you see it
Maybe if you say it, you'll mean it
And when you find it you'll keep it
In a permanent state
A permanent state
Swimming on a sea of faces
A tide of the human race
So, an answer now is what I need
I see it in the new sun rising
I see it break on your horizon
Oh, come on love, stay with me
And I want to feel like that
Little white shadows blink and missed them
Part of the system, I am
If you ever feel like something's missing
Things you'll never understand
Little white shadows sparkle and glisten
Part of a system, a plan
All this noise, I'm waking up
All this space I'm taking up
All this sound is breaking up
Whoa oh
Maybe you'll get what you wanted
Maybe you'll stumble upon it
Everything you ever wanted
In a permanent state
Maybe you'll know when you see it
Maybe if you say it you'll mean it
And when you find it you'll keep it
In a permanent state
A permanent state
When I was a young boy I tried to listen
Don't you wanna feel like that
You're part of the human race
All of the stars and the outer space
Part of the system plan
All this noise, I'm waking up
All this space I'm taking up
I cannot hear, you're breaking up
Whoa oh
Maybe you'll get what you wanted
Maybe you'll stumble upon it
Everything you ever wanted
In a permanent state
Maybe you'll know when you see it
Maybe if you say it, you'll mean it
And when you find it you'll keep it
In a permanent state
A permanent state
Swimming on a sea of faces
A tide of the human race
So, an answer now is what I need
I see it in the new sun rising
I see it break on your horizon
Oh, come on love, stay with me
Lyrics submitted by rocketqueenz, edited by RamblinRoyce
White Shadows Lyrics as written by Guy Rupert Berryman Christopher Anthony John Martin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this song is about the end of the world, at least the end of it.
It's about growing up and seeing things and realizing things. And then you feel something's missing, and you start to look back, recall, what you've left behind. And you start to regret, wishing you have lived in a "permanent state" in the past. You want to go back, but you can't let go of what you have. You forget what life is meaningful for. You forget why you exist and what makes life worthwhile. And then the end comes. And people are running everywhere and you know you are doomed. You're "swimming in the sea of faces". You are left behind. The end is near. Yet you can see no point of escape, but you just want to know why. You suddenly realize the truth, the fact that we should not live in the past and try to move on, as the past is passed. You sit down and quietly enjoy the last bit of your life.
As for the last part I agree it's about a nuclear war. Reminds me strongly of Fahrenheit 451. "New sun rising" and "break your horizon" is probably the bomb exploding.