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.
When you're on your own
Spread out on the mat
Dead
The highway's endless drone
Something familiar
And how we love the seasons that hide in our stomachs
That howl and howl and howl as if
Dropped from the great height
And I thought the hours that lie in the kitchen
They drag him, drag him, drag into black night
Dropped from the great height
It was strange
Constant blue
And the same ghost every night
I go walking
Just to find
My own breath my own breath through the path
I go walking
Just to find
My own breath my own breath through the path
Dropped from the great height
It was strange
Constant blue
And the same ghost every night
It was strange
Constant blue
And the same ghost every night
I go walking
Just to find
My own breath, my own breath through the path
I go walking
We are raised up very high
We are raised up very high
My own breath
Spread out on the mat
Dead
The highway's endless drone
Something familiar
And how we love the seasons that hide in our stomachs
That howl and howl and howl as if
Dropped from the great height
And I thought the hours that lie in the kitchen
They drag him, drag him, drag into black night
Dropped from the great height
It was strange
Constant blue
And the same ghost every night
I go walking
Just to find
My own breath my own breath through the path
I go walking
Just to find
My own breath my own breath through the path
Dropped from the great height
It was strange
Constant blue
And the same ghost every night
It was strange
Constant blue
And the same ghost every night
I go walking
Just to find
My own breath, my own breath through the path
I go walking
We are raised up very high
We are raised up very high
My own breath
Lyrics submitted by artblot
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To me, this seems like an interesting metaphor for society that is bred to watch tv. How people will sit inside at night, and the constant blue he refers to is the television light. He compares it to the same endless boring stretches of driving on the highway, "something familiar". "And how we love the seasons that hide in our stomachs" means despite our love for being outside and the times we spent outside, we stay indoors constantly despite the way our gut instinct tells us. The lyrics tells me he understands this, and goes out walking, wanting to find his own "breath".
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