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.
My independence is calling my name
A doubtful voice divides my faith
My independence only hesitates
An unsure choice I can't embrace
You're gonna have to carve me,
Carve me from stone
Right to the bone or
I'll end up alone
Playing the role
Of someone in control
Why do I rush to slow down
Why do I rush to slow down everything
Why do I rush to slow down
Why do I rush to slow down everything
Will the dice ever roll
When will I ever know
Will the plot ever twist
Or will I still resist
I've been playing the part of a lost realist
My independence is turning the page
Tomorrow comes we start to fade
My independence only complicates
It's not enough to meet half way
You'll have to carve me
Carve me from stone
Right to the bone
Or I'll end up alone
Playing the role
Of someone in control
Why do I rush to slow down
Why do I rush to slow down everything
Why do I rush to slow down
Why do I rush to slow down everything
Will the dice ever roll
When will I ever know
Will the plot ever twist
Or will I still resist
I've been playing the part of a lost realist
I only keep what I give away
I only keep what I give away
Why do I rush to slow down
Why do I rush to slow down everything
Why do I rush to slow down
Why do I rush to slow down
Everything
Will the dice ever roll
When will I ever know
Will the plot ever twist
Or will I still resist
I've been playing the part of a lost realist
Why do I rush to slow down
Why do I rush to slow down everything
Why do I rush to slow down
A doubtful voice divides my faith
My independence only hesitates
An unsure choice I can't embrace
You're gonna have to carve me,
Carve me from stone
Right to the bone or
I'll end up alone
Playing the role
Of someone in control
Why do I rush to slow down
Why do I rush to slow down everything
Why do I rush to slow down
Why do I rush to slow down everything
Will the dice ever roll
When will I ever know
Will the plot ever twist
Or will I still resist
I've been playing the part of a lost realist
My independence is turning the page
Tomorrow comes we start to fade
My independence only complicates
It's not enough to meet half way
You'll have to carve me
Carve me from stone
Right to the bone
Or I'll end up alone
Playing the role
Of someone in control
Why do I rush to slow down
Why do I rush to slow down everything
Why do I rush to slow down
Why do I rush to slow down everything
Will the dice ever roll
When will I ever know
Will the plot ever twist
Or will I still resist
I've been playing the part of a lost realist
I only keep what I give away
I only keep what I give away
Why do I rush to slow down
Why do I rush to slow down everything
Why do I rush to slow down
Why do I rush to slow down
Everything
Will the dice ever roll
When will I ever know
Will the plot ever twist
Or will I still resist
I've been playing the part of a lost realist
Why do I rush to slow down
Why do I rush to slow down everything
Why do I rush to slow down
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I think this songs about life and the quest to understand. Its about leaving a big time in your life and trying to figure out why it had to end. He says "My independence is turning the page, tommorow comes we start to fade." He's saying that being an indpendent person is the quickest way to see the story unfold and understand it. He means that people have to part once in a while. Then he says "I only keep what i give away" he's saying that the only thing he ever holds on to is memories of the past, and so the only reality that he has is in his memories but he doesnt understand the future and so he cant understand his memories. Realism is knowing what makes sense, its almost as if in this song he's battling with himself, trying to decide is reality the past or is it the future or is it none of the above. He says will the dice ever roll, its saying will he ever see his chances become outcomes, will he be able to see the effect of what he hopes. I think we all feel this way, we dont know the future and so we try to take chances and make it better by figuring out what the past meant, understanding that the transition is systematic according the general everday opinion of the world, to the world life is only everday occurences, but being a realist is looking at reality and seeing it for more than it is, thats reason enough to go on. Trapt rocks!!! best CD from them!!!