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.
Ever since I was a kid I've been
Clear eyed, clear eyed
I can't forget but I forgive,
Did you notice? Are you all right?
On the edge of memory where shapes
Take form and call to me
Some things I wish I'd never seen
Had never been, but so it is, so it is
If all I know is what I see, then certainty
Is what you are to me
Clear eyed, clear eyed
Someone came and changed the words
Left me tongue tied, tongue tied
It's not a sky without a cloud
There is no blue sky, blue sky
Beyond the past, beyond the fear
The simple act of being here
Some things I wish I'd never seen
Had never been, but so it is, so it is
If all I know is what I see
Then certainty is what you are to me
Clear eyed, clear eyed
Blind me with love, make me blind
Blind me with love, make me blind
'Cause I've seen too much, too much of this life
I have seen too much, too much of this life
I have seen too much, too much of this life
I have seen too much, too much of this life
Now I only see you, only see you
Clear eyed, clear eyed
Clear eyed, clear eyed
Clear eyed, clear eyed
I can't forget but I forgive,
Did you notice? Are you all right?
On the edge of memory where shapes
Take form and call to me
Some things I wish I'd never seen
Had never been, but so it is, so it is
If all I know is what I see, then certainty
Is what you are to me
Clear eyed, clear eyed
Someone came and changed the words
Left me tongue tied, tongue tied
It's not a sky without a cloud
There is no blue sky, blue sky
Beyond the past, beyond the fear
The simple act of being here
Some things I wish I'd never seen
Had never been, but so it is, so it is
If all I know is what I see
Then certainty is what you are to me
Clear eyed, clear eyed
Blind me with love, make me blind
Blind me with love, make me blind
'Cause I've seen too much, too much of this life
I have seen too much, too much of this life
I have seen too much, too much of this life
I have seen too much, too much of this life
Now I only see you, only see you
Clear eyed, clear eyed
Clear eyed, clear eyed
Lyrics submitted by planetearth
Cleareyed Lyrics as written by Glen Phillips Daniel Wilson
Lyrics © COMPASS RECORDS GROUP INC, BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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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.
This is an incredible song. So sad, yet hopeful at the same time.
I think he's talking about innocence or being "cleareyed" and how that get's lost as you grow up, "there is no blue sky" and "some things i wish I'd never seen/had never been".
And now he's met someone who gives him back feelings of certainy and innocence, "now i only see you". He wants the person to, "blind me with love" and erase all the bad things he's seen and experienced.
I initially thought he was talking about romantic love to a woman he's met or something, but the more I think about it, he could be singing to his daughter. Does Glen Phillips have a daughter? Either way it's beautiful, reminds me of some of the awful things I've seen in my short life and gives me a bit of hope that I can retain my childish innocence still.
He actually has three daughters. Right now, he, his wife, and the three young Phillps are in Europe doing some unsual concerts. Check out glenphillips.com.
Has my favorite line on Winter Pays for Summer "Beyond the past, beyond the fear, the simple act of being here" I met my now wife a few days after seeing Glen live & we had a turbulent long distance relationship so those lines mean a lot to me.