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.
I see the birdies in the trees
I see the fishes in the seas
And perching on the garden wall
I see the man that made it all
I see the sand, I see the stones
I see right through into your bones
Your skeleton can dance all night
And caper 'neath the swaying light
Sleeping with your devil mask
Is all I want to do
And when I stop it means
I'm through with you
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, yeah
So welcome Mr. Dennis Forbes
Who's brought along his perspex orbs
And they are full of leather peas
That rattle like a slow disease
I've got to have a nasty thought
Because of all the stuff I bought
From sultry Mr. Gareth Hobbes
Who does a load of useless jobs
And in the chapel after lunch
They used to cluster in a bunch
Sleeping with your devil mask
Is all I wanna do
And when I stop it means
I'm through with you
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, yeah
It's all compulsion, there's no choice
My mother's second name is Joyce
And once when she was very young
She saw a cellist being hung
Thirteen men with long black heads
All came and stood around her bed
And when the morning light came in
She saw their heads had all caved in
Their rotting brains fell to the floor
And crawled away towards the door
Sleeping with your Devil mask
Is all I wanna do
And when I stop it means
I'm through with you
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, yeah
The organism rapes itself
(Sleeping with your devil mask)
And then gives birth upon the shelf
(Sleeping with your devil mask)
And over where the magpie struts
(Sleeping with your devil mask)
A flower billows from my guts
(Sleeping with your devil mask)
Some things go in some things go out
And next time 'round I'll be a trout
I see the fishes in the seas
And perching on the garden wall
I see the man that made it all
I see the sand, I see the stones
I see right through into your bones
Your skeleton can dance all night
And caper 'neath the swaying light
Sleeping with your devil mask
Is all I want to do
And when I stop it means
I'm through with you
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, yeah
So welcome Mr. Dennis Forbes
Who's brought along his perspex orbs
And they are full of leather peas
That rattle like a slow disease
I've got to have a nasty thought
Because of all the stuff I bought
From sultry Mr. Gareth Hobbes
Who does a load of useless jobs
And in the chapel after lunch
They used to cluster in a bunch
Sleeping with your devil mask
Is all I wanna do
And when I stop it means
I'm through with you
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, yeah
It's all compulsion, there's no choice
My mother's second name is Joyce
And once when she was very young
She saw a cellist being hung
Thirteen men with long black heads
All came and stood around her bed
And when the morning light came in
She saw their heads had all caved in
Their rotting brains fell to the floor
And crawled away towards the door
Sleeping with your Devil mask
Is all I wanna do
And when I stop it means
I'm through with you
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, yeah
The organism rapes itself
(Sleeping with your devil mask)
And then gives birth upon the shelf
(Sleeping with your devil mask)
And over where the magpie struts
(Sleeping with your devil mask)
A flower billows from my guts
(Sleeping with your devil mask)
Some things go in some things go out
And next time 'round I'll be a trout
Lyrics submitted by Milkman82
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Years ago, working at the sort of "job that slowly kills you" (name that tune), I had a distant colleague named: Gary Hobbs.
(the spelling had been Americanized. in a similar manner as the previous sentence's final word has been geographically harmonised)
As it happened (as it was...meant to happen?)...well
Yes. He did a load of useless jobs.