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.
to make a mountain of
your life Is just a choice
but I never learned enough
to listen to the voice that told me
always love
hate will get you every time
always love
don't wait till the finish line
slow demands come around
squeeze the air and keep the rest out
it helps to write it down
even when you then cross it out
bu always love
hate will get you every time
always love
even when you ought to fight
self-directed lives
i want to know what it'd be like to
aim so high above
every card that you get dealt you
always love
hate will get you every time
always love
hate will get you
and i've been held back by something
you said to me quietly on the stairs
i've been held back by something
you said to me quietly on the stairs
you said
hey, you good ones
hey, you good ones
to make a mountain of
your life is just a choice
but I never learned enough
to listen to the voice that told me
always love
hate will get you every time
always love
hate will get you
i've been held back by something
you said to me quietly on the stairs
i've been held back by something
iou said to me quietly on the stairs
you said
hey, you good ones
hey, you good ones
hey, you good ones
your life Is just a choice
but I never learned enough
to listen to the voice that told me
always love
hate will get you every time
always love
don't wait till the finish line
slow demands come around
squeeze the air and keep the rest out
it helps to write it down
even when you then cross it out
bu always love
hate will get you every time
always love
even when you ought to fight
self-directed lives
i want to know what it'd be like to
aim so high above
every card that you get dealt you
always love
hate will get you every time
always love
hate will get you
and i've been held back by something
you said to me quietly on the stairs
i've been held back by something
you said to me quietly on the stairs
you said
hey, you good ones
hey, you good ones
to make a mountain of
your life is just a choice
but I never learned enough
to listen to the voice that told me
always love
hate will get you every time
always love
hate will get you
i've been held back by something
you said to me quietly on the stairs
i've been held back by something
iou said to me quietly on the stairs
you said
hey, you good ones
hey, you good ones
hey, you good ones
Lyrics submitted by RomanCandle, edited by tetsuo29
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It's crazy, but nobody seems to share my view on this song.
I'm focusing on the line "I never learned enough to listen to the voice that told me 'always love, hate will get you every time'". Doesn't this sound... negative? To me, this doesn't sound like "Hey guys I've got some good advice for all of you out there - ALWAYS LOVE!!!", but it sounds like "I know that theoretically it's the best thing to do, but I just can't seem to do it. I cannot listen to that voice, but that's not because I think it is wrong, but because I lack the ability to become what that voice tells me to be."
There's also the line "It helps to write it down, even if you then cross it out". Again, the gap between theory and actually doing it. You feel better if you write down what you know is true. But then, you have to cross it out and resign, because in real-life, it is not quite that easy.
And then there is the part that begins with "I've been held back by something" and ends with "hey, you could once" or "hey, you good ones" (I've seen both versions in lyrics and both make no sense to me, so whatever..) It is an interruption. Just before he started the sentence "Always love, hate will get you--" then he stops and talks about a scene that just comes to his mind and seems important to him. And I think it is a scene that he looks back on in anger, or sadness. It is one of the scenes in life where love doesn't help because you get hurt by somebody. But I'm not so sure about that - maybe it is him who made a mistake there. Maybe he hurt that somebody's feelings and now realizes: I never learned enough to listen to the voice that told me "always love".
That's so far the only way I can interpret this song. Help me out! Tell me why this song isn't as depressing as I think it is. I would really like to know what you think about that. Because "meaning is easy: always love" just doesn't convince me when there are so many strange parts in the song.
Fearabbit- I don’t think the writer is saying “I know that theoretically it's the best thing to do, but I just can't seem to do it. I cannot listen to that voice, but that's not because I think it is wrong, but because I lack the ability to become what that voice tells me to be,” as you say.<br /> <br /> I think he is saying “I’ve been stupid not to listen to my inner voice. I’m going to change that from now on.”<br /> <br /> The writer says “I’ve been held back by something.”..In the context of this song, the writer admits that he has been held back by something (hate) but now, he is determined to change that.<br />