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.
your shirts are pressed
your words are planned
your jeans are ripped
your skin is tan
and like the cancer in your hands
you've plagued this town with schemes and plans
it makes me sick
that they can't see
your own predictive irony
you're at your peak and that's just fine
you take your moment; i'll take mine
i'd like to believe the best of me
is something i have yet to see
coz working at dead-end jobs
and skipping class
and spending hours on my ass
just doesn't sound like any fun to me
i hate to judge
but i can't stop
unless you step off your soapbox
coz it's caving in and you can't tell
you're busy checking out yourself
oh you're so deep
your taste is chic
but we both know that talk is cheap
it matters least
the words you shout
if you don't know what's coming out
i'd like to believe the best of me
is something i have yet to see
coz working at dead-end jobs
and skipping class
and spending hours on my ass
just doesn't sound like any fun to me
it's senior year
and we're all down
for getting out of this old town
you're staying back
you'd rather stop
coz at this moment you're on top
the years will pass
we'll all come through
and you'll be right just where we left you
you'll realise
you weren't so cool
and that we're all so over highschool
i'd like to believe the best of me
is something i have yet to see
coz working at dead-end jobs
and skipping class
and spending hours on my ass
just doesn't sound like any fun to me
your words are planned
your jeans are ripped
your skin is tan
and like the cancer in your hands
you've plagued this town with schemes and plans
it makes me sick
that they can't see
your own predictive irony
you're at your peak and that's just fine
you take your moment; i'll take mine
i'd like to believe the best of me
is something i have yet to see
coz working at dead-end jobs
and skipping class
and spending hours on my ass
just doesn't sound like any fun to me
i hate to judge
but i can't stop
unless you step off your soapbox
coz it's caving in and you can't tell
you're busy checking out yourself
oh you're so deep
your taste is chic
but we both know that talk is cheap
it matters least
the words you shout
if you don't know what's coming out
i'd like to believe the best of me
is something i have yet to see
coz working at dead-end jobs
and skipping class
and spending hours on my ass
just doesn't sound like any fun to me
it's senior year
and we're all down
for getting out of this old town
you're staying back
you'd rather stop
coz at this moment you're on top
the years will pass
we'll all come through
and you'll be right just where we left you
you'll realise
you weren't so cool
and that we're all so over highschool
i'd like to believe the best of me
is something i have yet to see
coz working at dead-end jobs
and skipping class
and spending hours on my ass
just doesn't sound like any fun to me
Lyrics submitted by Indigo*Hippie
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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.
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
This song is definitely about graduating high school and not wanting to know where you're going, just that you want out
But, it is also about that one dude in high school, the one that is "cool", but also the one who has a future of domestic violence and alcohol abuse ahead of him, as he lives in his double wide, never giving up on his glory days of running this small town. The guy who you'll run into at the bar when you come back to visit, and he's still wearing his varsity jacket even though his belly seems to have outgrown it.
The verses are about that stereotypical person, no doubt. The choruses are about getting the fuck out, but not being sure what you want to do.