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.
bluejays and cardinals all come out to play
highway traffic gets out of your way
skies clear up if they're overcast.
pit bulls are gentle when you come past.
stars come out of hiding for you
and i would too.
cause this world couldn't hold you
you slipped free
yeah this world couldn't hold you
you slipped free
without me.
new sheen all over everything
when you open up your mouth to sing.
baseballs travel further when you watch them fly.
apples fatten on the trees when you walk by.
you bring something unreplaceble to each and every day.
or you used to anyway.
but this world couldn't hold you
and you slipped free
yeah this world couldn't hold you
and you slipped free
without me.
highway traffic gets out of your way
skies clear up if they're overcast.
pit bulls are gentle when you come past.
stars come out of hiding for you
and i would too.
cause this world couldn't hold you
you slipped free
yeah this world couldn't hold you
you slipped free
without me.
new sheen all over everything
when you open up your mouth to sing.
baseballs travel further when you watch them fly.
apples fatten on the trees when you walk by.
you bring something unreplaceble to each and every day.
or you used to anyway.
but this world couldn't hold you
and you slipped free
yeah this world couldn't hold you
and you slipped free
without me.
Lyrics submitted by gonka
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I totally agree with yurkyurk. The song seems to me to be about death, specifically about the untimely death of someone the narrator loved (girlfriend, wife, child, etc). The world couldn't hold them, and they slipped free (died) without the narrator, who is still alive.
Often, when someone dies young, you'll hear people talk about how much they brightened up a room, or made everything better with their smile. That's what this song is, essentially. That line, "...Or you used to, anyway" is easy to miss, but it's devastating for me.
Anyhow, this song gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.
Clear references to baseball at a couple of points. The refrain of "This world couldn't hold you" suggests suicide, I think. In any case, it's a goodbye to someone he loved who slipped free.
Most of the comments are a little off-base. This song IS about the death of someone, but not a girlfriend or a wife. As a matter of fact, this song isn't dedicated to a girl at all.
This song, like "Shadow Song" is dedicated to Rozz Williams. Rozz Williams was a singer, he was in a band called Christian Death and then he was in another band called Shadow Project. And then he committed suicide. He was a good friend of JD. Yes, this is not a fictional song sung from the point of view of a fictional character. This is JD singing as JD words that were really in his heart.
im thinking that his meaning of this song was that this person was so special (stars come out of hiding for you and i would too.) but he just couldnt hold onto them anymore because they were so special and great and possibly talented at one thing or another, that they just moved on. and he couldnt stop them. i dont know. thats one way of looking at it.
im thinking it either has to do with affection or death.
One of my favorite things about John is his sports metaphors -- who else could write a song this good about death, love, and baseball?
I think the song is very much about death. He is singing about a girl who he thinks is completely wonderful and lit up the world, but she has died and left him behind.
Definitely seems like a celebration of her life rather than a song of mourning.