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.
(Humming)
Gather round, you wounded people
Shadows fall upon the steeple
Soon shall come the closing of
The closing of the gates.
For there is word of plague among us
Curse the one whose poison stung us
All along the alleyways
The satyrs wait their fate.
But who's to blame when all are guilty?
Morals stained and conscience filthy
Abreast your idol replicas
Your replicas of lust
Cause in the sky I hear the threshing
Dare to watch your Lord undressing?
And all you beg forgiveness
And feed on his disgust
But if perhaps the salt might stain your skin
And if perhaps the smoke might weep your eyes
Listen While The Threnodies Begin (Uhuhuhu)
No, no one in here gets out alive
But let your frailty not deceive you
A little pinprick, rest relieves you
And dream of all the days that are
The years that are to come
For you will dance and you'll be nimble
Pirouettes upon a thimble
And I will be beside you
Lest I lose you once again
But if perhaps my sorrows are all show
And I should find a crack among the gates
Guilt shall follow me wherever l'll go
Though I try I know I can't escape
When you're gone the earth will crumble
I will try, but I will stumble
And all through these city streets
My robes shall drag the ground
Cause hear the children swing with sorrow
Yesterday was once tomorrow
No more I'll be troubled
By the troubles of this world
But if I lose my step along the way
And if the speech of victim fills my throat
Out beyond past the cliffs that shape the day
It's there I'll wander, there I'll stray
It's there I will look for you when all my trials are done
(Uhuhuhu)
I feign to sleep to save my breath
This love is loss
This life is theft
And all that's left is some vain need to carry on
(Uhuhuhu)
And though I fear the tightening of the skies
Against the daw I'll watch you rise
Oh Lord, the company I keep within my head
(Uhuhuhu)
The scent of flesh might tease the nose
It claims the calm, it clings the clothes
Could that be you my love, your dust upon the wind?
Gather round, you wounded people
Shadows fall upon the steeple
Soon shall come the closing of
The closing of the gates.
For there is word of plague among us
Curse the one whose poison stung us
All along the alleyways
The satyrs wait their fate.
But who's to blame when all are guilty?
Morals stained and conscience filthy
Abreast your idol replicas
Your replicas of lust
Cause in the sky I hear the threshing
Dare to watch your Lord undressing?
And all you beg forgiveness
And feed on his disgust
But if perhaps the salt might stain your skin
And if perhaps the smoke might weep your eyes
Listen While The Threnodies Begin (Uhuhuhu)
No, no one in here gets out alive
But let your frailty not deceive you
A little pinprick, rest relieves you
And dream of all the days that are
The years that are to come
For you will dance and you'll be nimble
Pirouettes upon a thimble
And I will be beside you
Lest I lose you once again
But if perhaps my sorrows are all show
And I should find a crack among the gates
Guilt shall follow me wherever l'll go
Though I try I know I can't escape
When you're gone the earth will crumble
I will try, but I will stumble
And all through these city streets
My robes shall drag the ground
Cause hear the children swing with sorrow
Yesterday was once tomorrow
No more I'll be troubled
By the troubles of this world
But if I lose my step along the way
And if the speech of victim fills my throat
Out beyond past the cliffs that shape the day
It's there I'll wander, there I'll stray
It's there I will look for you when all my trials are done
(Uhuhuhu)
I feign to sleep to save my breath
This love is loss
This life is theft
And all that's left is some vain need to carry on
(Uhuhuhu)
And though I fear the tightening of the skies
Against the daw I'll watch you rise
Oh Lord, the company I keep within my head
(Uhuhuhu)
The scent of flesh might tease the nose
It claims the calm, it clings the clothes
Could that be you my love, your dust upon the wind?
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My buddy and I just discussed this song and there has to be more to it than just love gone wrong. I picture being stuck on earth after Jesus has returned. Taking with him his faithful followers, although I'm an atheist, I was raised in church and the religious points of the song stand out and throw red flags. I feel his love was called to heaven and he was left behind to correct his life, and although he can't manage to believe, he still searches for his love and for something to help him to believe. In the end he only catches the dust of his past lovers body. I guess that was enough for him to let go.
I'm drinking. Ill add something else at a later date
One of my favorite Two Gallants songs. I can't help but think of the Yeats poem "The Second Coming" whenever I hear this song.
Some great lines in here:
but who's to blame when all are guilty morals stained & conscience filthy
hear the children swing with sorrow, yesterday was once tomorrow no more i'll be troubled by the troubles of this world
Their best song in my opinion. Hounting. Betreyal, love, fear and the recognition of guilt and wrong. Absolutelly love it. It's scary!
the comical threat of the abilty to relate this to thy own ways ... your own life in so many ways reminds me of reading every horoscope ...as with any song ... this can mean so much ..for me this song is a way for them to grieve ... to mourn. Something , everything, nothing. So many powerful and exclamated pints it just doesnt seem right
By far, their best song. I haven't physically seen them perform this song in concert, other than on youtube, so I do believe I can die once they I do see them play Threnody live.
The most poignant part of the song: "hear the children swing with sorrow, yesterday was once tomorrow. no more i'll be troubled by the troubles of this world. But if i lose my step along the way and if the speech of victim fills my throat; out beyond the cliffs that shape the day, it's there i'll wander, there i'll stray, it's there i'll look for you when all my trials are done."
It's love gone amiss. No one person is ever to fully blame (regardless of ones pleading) for a love that breaks. But, there is still love there, almost to a fault, and that he hangs on to a simple fact: Our love died now, but the memory still holds onto a chance that is not reciprocated.
reminds me a great deal of waves of grain actually, while this one does seem a lot more focused on personal loss, guilt, redemption etc, i see a fair amount of social commentary type imagery thrown in. in particular the lines about the plague and the people sealed in the town early on remind me of camus...
To me the first part of this brilliant songs sets an apocalyptic background (plaque, closing of the doors) to the song. The two most important themes of the song are religion (as pointed out in earlier comments) and lies (pirouettes upon a thimble, my sorrows are all show) and how men is haunted by both, though created by himself. The last interpretation can be supported by the fastening of the tempo and the use of syncopation throughout the song. But there is certainly a lot more to it.
Oh Lord, acomp'ny me and keep within my head.
One of the most epic songs i have ever heard.