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.
In good old times, remember, my friend
Moon was so bright and so close to us, sometimes
We were still blind and deaf, what a bliss?
Painting the world of our own, for our own eyes, now?
"Can we ever have what we had then
Friendship unbreakable
Love means nothing to me
Without blinking an eye
I'd fade, if so needed
All those moments with you
If I had you beside me"
One cloudy day we both lost the game?
We drifted so far and away.
Nothing is quite as cruel as a child
Sometimes we break the unbreakable, sometimes?
"And we'll never have what we had then
Friendship unbroken
Love means nothing to me
Without blinking an eye
I'd fade, if so needed
All those moments with you
If I had you beside me"
I was unable to cope with what you said
Sometimes we need to be cruel to be kind
Child that I was, could not see the reason
Feelings I had were but sham and a lie?
I have never forgotten your smile
Your eyes of Shamandalie
Time went by, many memories died
I'm writing this down to ease my pain
You saw us always clearer than me
How we were never meant to be
Love denied meant the friendship would die,
The years showed me the light
These memories make me cry
"And we'll never have what we had then
Friendship unbroken
Love means nothing to me
Without blinking an eye
I'd fade, if so needed
All those moments with you
And see the world with my wide open eyes
Friendship got broken,
There's no other for me
Like the one of my childhood day
Can you forgive me?
The love got better off me
On that one day back in old times"
Moon was so bright and so close to us, sometimes
We were still blind and deaf, what a bliss?
Painting the world of our own, for our own eyes, now?
"Can we ever have what we had then
Friendship unbreakable
Love means nothing to me
Without blinking an eye
I'd fade, if so needed
All those moments with you
If I had you beside me"
One cloudy day we both lost the game?
We drifted so far and away.
Nothing is quite as cruel as a child
Sometimes we break the unbreakable, sometimes?
"And we'll never have what we had then
Friendship unbroken
Love means nothing to me
Without blinking an eye
I'd fade, if so needed
All those moments with you
If I had you beside me"
I was unable to cope with what you said
Sometimes we need to be cruel to be kind
Child that I was, could not see the reason
Feelings I had were but sham and a lie?
I have never forgotten your smile
Your eyes of Shamandalie
Time went by, many memories died
I'm writing this down to ease my pain
You saw us always clearer than me
How we were never meant to be
Love denied meant the friendship would die,
The years showed me the light
These memories make me cry
"And we'll never have what we had then
Friendship unbroken
Love means nothing to me
Without blinking an eye
I'd fade, if so needed
All those moments with you
And see the world with my wide open eyes
Friendship got broken,
There's no other for me
Like the one of my childhood day
Can you forgive me?
The love got better off me
On that one day back in old times"
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Ohkay this song has a lot within it, but I'm going to try and sum it up.
It's a song about two people, they were wonderful friends as children and made those promises that well always be friends, I'll never leave you, etc. etc. I'm sure we all know what thats about.
Anyways, time goes on, and as they grow out of childhood, they fall in love. However, the other (the one not singing, prolly girl) saw that this would not last, "You saw us always clearer than me how we were never meant to be" And so, of course, it ended "I was unable to cope with what you said Sometimes we need to be cruel to be kind"
And he ask, if these feelings he had were real or, just a "Sham and a lie (shamandalie)"
As time went by the many memories they had together faded and died, but he still missed them, hence why he writes this down.
But then it also says "Love denied meant the friendship would die Now I have seen the light"
I think that that makes him realize, that without love, the friendship would die.
Basically meaning, if they denied love and stayed "friends" the friendship would die. As the guy saw it Yet as the woman saw it They were never meant to be.
So perhaps this is just a doomed tragedy?
then at the end "See the world with my wide open eyes" Wanting to see everything clearly, fully understand the reasons and why everythings happening.
"Can you forgive me? The love got better off me" Asking for forgiveness for the mistakes made when they were lovers.
That's what I get from the song, this is a really beautiful song and it means a lot to me, and I could go into much greater detail but I'm too lazy to type all that out. So I tried to sum it up...
I pretty much agree with everything you say but there is are a couple of things I disagree with:
"Love denied meant the friendship would die Now I have seen the light"
I think this line shows that after the couple went out, or the guy told the girl that he liked her (I feel that both these ideas work with the song) that becuase of it things got uneasy etc and eventually contact was lost.
"See the world with my wide open eyes"
This relates back to the line earlier in the song of them being "blind and deaf" basically it shows he is no ignorant to the reasons behind her decision.
I think "love denied" is a clever grammatical ambiguity; aside from meaning "the friendship would die if the love was denied", it could also mean "the friendship would die if exposed to denied love".
This is one of my favourite SA songs... Propably because the story within hits me right into the heart like a poisonous knife. I love this song...
hey if you separate the name shamandalie you get the words sham and a lie!
I agree with CaptainEmo.. btw I dont know many Emos liking sonata, lol...in my opinion: emo sux.. not to effend anyone thats only my opinion, as i said.
hey, lerave thos silly emos be emos if they wanna ^^
Normally this is not my type of music but I think the lyrics of "Shamandalie" are extremely beautiful, actually, according to its lyrics, it's one of the most beautiful songs I've ever listened to. So poetic and moving. I think the bands I'm listening to could learn something from Sonata, haha.
My friend got me to listen to this song once in class and it actually made me tremble. It was so good I wanted to just collapse and cry, and I can't really explain why, I didn't really even hear the words. It's just an absolutely amazing song.
I agree with almost all the things CaptainEmo said, but i wonder it the couple did stayed together. I mean, when i first listened this song, i understand that they were close friends, since childhood, but one day HE felt in love with her. And as she didn't feel the same, feeling like the relationship wouldn't last, she said no. This meant basically the end of the friendship, because he wasn't able to accept that the love of his life had denied his love, at the same time she was avoiding him or losing contact. He would never forget her, her smile... and still want that friendship back. i don't know, just my opinion.. =)