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.
He said "Who truly belongs here?"
"Not I" She stared, "I’d lie here with you."
He knows, no one shines forever,
they change with the weather
He said "I’ve now stayed too long here."
"Goodbye" She said, "I’ll wait here for you."
He knows the winds carry sorrow
As they leave, she'll follow
They leave tomorrow
Fragments of joy torn apart,
A freshly drained heart
That beats, disguise themselves through him
He’ll say that "It’s nothing new."
And swear this is true, for you
I’ll swallow the ocean, I’ll swallow the ocean
He said "Who truly belongs here?"
"Not I" She stared, "I’d lie here to you."
I know the sorrow is sacred,
and I’ll never break you,
I’ll softly save you
Fragments of joy torn apart
A freshly drained heart
That beats, disguise themselves through him
He’ll say that "It’s nothing new."
And swear this is true, for you
I’ll swallow the ocean, I’ll swallow the ocean
"Not I" She stared, "I’d lie here with you."
He knows, no one shines forever,
they change with the weather
He said "I’ve now stayed too long here."
"Goodbye" She said, "I’ll wait here for you."
He knows the winds carry sorrow
As they leave, she'll follow
They leave tomorrow
Fragments of joy torn apart,
A freshly drained heart
That beats, disguise themselves through him
He’ll say that "It’s nothing new."
And swear this is true, for you
I’ll swallow the ocean, I’ll swallow the ocean
He said "Who truly belongs here?"
"Not I" She stared, "I’d lie here to you."
I know the sorrow is sacred,
and I’ll never break you,
I’ll softly save you
Fragments of joy torn apart
A freshly drained heart
That beats, disguise themselves through him
He’ll say that "It’s nothing new."
And swear this is true, for you
I’ll swallow the ocean, I’ll swallow the ocean
Lyrics submitted by razed
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song begins with a fairly philosophical question, "who realy belongs here." Here as in a physical place in time, in a particular situation, or perhaps simply in existance.
"'Not I' she said, "I'd lie here with you"' she replies. Neither of them believe they do (obviously). Shes complacant, but as we soon see he doesnt believe her. He believes everything is transient, especialy love. She says she is true and that she will stay and wait for him, but he knows she wont (possible link to Endlessly, She Said?)
I believe this is about (aside from simply being another chapter of the album's story) someone whos fear of abandonment causes them to puch away anyone that gets too close. She sais she will wait, but his fear tells him that love can never last and that with the wind comes sorrow, with the winds depart her love for him. To him this is natural, the loss as normal as the wind and the pain it causes as sacred as any sacrement.
He abandons his sentement but still she waits, but eventualy she realises he has abandoned her and leaves, fulfilling his belief.
Or pherhaps not, I just felt like offering something.
thank you so much I really love this song and thought it had a deeper meaning and thanks