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.
Sometimes you walk by the goods ones
'Cause you're trying too hard, too hard to see them
And sometimes you don't find the right lines
'Cause you're trying, too hard, too hard to hear them
But you know what it feels like, 'cause you're like me
And you won't give up
Till an all time love
'Cause nothing else is good enough
I want an all time love
To find me
Some days you're too set in your ways
And you forget to shut up, shut up and listen
And some days you just have to misplace all your mistakes
Somewhere that you won't miss them
So stop lying that you're fine, cause you're like me
And you can't give up
Till an all time love
'Cause nothing else is good enough
I want an all time love
To find me
I don't believe that it's a failure
I don't believe that it's a fault
'Cause if everything were plain sailing
Oh, tell me what would there be left to exalt
But an all time love
'Cause nothing else is good enough
I want an all time love
To find me
I want an all time love
'Cause nothing else is good enough
I want an all time love
To find me
'Cause you're trying too hard, too hard to see them
And sometimes you don't find the right lines
'Cause you're trying, too hard, too hard to hear them
But you know what it feels like, 'cause you're like me
And you won't give up
Till an all time love
'Cause nothing else is good enough
I want an all time love
To find me
Some days you're too set in your ways
And you forget to shut up, shut up and listen
And some days you just have to misplace all your mistakes
Somewhere that you won't miss them
So stop lying that you're fine, cause you're like me
And you can't give up
Till an all time love
'Cause nothing else is good enough
I want an all time love
To find me
I don't believe that it's a failure
I don't believe that it's a fault
'Cause if everything were plain sailing
Oh, tell me what would there be left to exalt
But an all time love
'Cause nothing else is good enough
I want an all time love
To find me
I want an all time love
'Cause nothing else is good enough
I want an all time love
To find me
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
St Vs records are coming on the radio thick and fast heres one I've liked since I first heard it in Jan 2006. Its not Dylan but read the lyrics and give it a chance. A modern classic from Will Young methinks and its only got 2 comments so far. Time will make it a classic take my word for it 'Mystic Meg' AKA IreneXY
The video is also excellent and I always thought it was a guy whos been in love, been dumped and is now stalking his lover at a art exhibition but I've obviously just seen a bit of it heres what the man himself (WY) says about the video
"I love this video, I think All Time Love and Friday's Child are the best two videos I've ever done. They are so clever in their execution and what I love about the All Time Love video is that it's bolstered the song and given it a character which has made it even stronger. It's also the most interesting video I've done because it throws up a lot of different things.
"The story is that I am this student leader of a group of artists, poets, political activists - bohemian people with free ideas and free ideals. I am in court for a variety of things that you're not quite sure of but certainly a crime of passion - I love the ambiguity of it. There are hints of running against modern-day capitalism or a controlling society where we are all robots.
"It's the idea of a guy who is saying, 'Remember who you are, remember your soul'. It really resonated and touched on a lot of things that I believe in.
"I really enjoyed making it and I think it's beautifully shot. I love the courtroom scene and the one with the judges eating ice cream: it's an important, seminal case and yet the judges are walking in with ice creams, it shows what their thoughts are on the legal process.
"I think it's great and I'm very pleased with it - as you can tell!"
CLASS !
IreneXY
Who Am I All Time Love
More Answers From Will
Will's Answers
Dress Will Up!
Behind-The-Scenes Shots
Behind-The-Scenes At Will's Rehearsals
Your Chance To Meet Will!