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.
In a garage, beside a house, there is a luxury sedan
And for his next monthly installment,
He's gonna go out with a bang!
Boy who always did what he was told,
Was promised to be king when he was old
Hit the brakes, hit the glass,
Time to shake the hands of fate
The mistakes of the past,
Flashed before his face
There is a man, intensive care
When he awakes he will declare,
"I've been dead for twenty years!
I won't let twenty more go by"
Boy who always did what he was told,
Bought the only dream that he was sold
Hit the brakes, hit the glass,
Time to shake the hands of fate
The mistakes of the past,
Flashed before his face
Burn the evidence, of my existence,
Clear the ashes on the ground
Burn the evidence, of all these things,
That pull my spirit down
Ever feel like you've been cheated,
Following what they believe?
Don't shake the hands of fate,
Don't shake the hands of fate,
There's no more time to waste!
Burn the evidence, of my existence,
Clear the ashes on the ground
Burn the evidence, of all these things,
That pull my spirit down
Burn the evidence!
Don't shake the hands of fate,
There's no more time to waste!
And for his next monthly installment,
He's gonna go out with a bang!
Boy who always did what he was told,
Was promised to be king when he was old
Hit the brakes, hit the glass,
Time to shake the hands of fate
The mistakes of the past,
Flashed before his face
There is a man, intensive care
When he awakes he will declare,
"I've been dead for twenty years!
I won't let twenty more go by"
Boy who always did what he was told,
Bought the only dream that he was sold
Hit the brakes, hit the glass,
Time to shake the hands of fate
The mistakes of the past,
Flashed before his face
Burn the evidence, of my existence,
Clear the ashes on the ground
Burn the evidence, of all these things,
That pull my spirit down
Ever feel like you've been cheated,
Following what they believe?
Don't shake the hands of fate,
Don't shake the hands of fate,
There's no more time to waste!
Burn the evidence, of my existence,
Clear the ashes on the ground
Burn the evidence, of all these things,
That pull my spirit down
Burn the evidence!
Don't shake the hands of fate,
There's no more time to waste!
Lyrics submitted by Moriquendi
Burn the Evidence Lyrics as written by Ben Kowalewicz Aaron Solowoniuk
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I agree there,
Tt seems to me they were raised in a controlled environment. Like, with dominating parents.
"There is a man, intensive care When he awakes he will declare, “I’ve been dead for 20 years! I won’t let 20 more go by…”"
He's not been living his life to the full, and wants to change it. If he removes his past, he can get on with his future.
I agree with Junesong but also...
I think the person had a near death experience(a car accident).
Hit the brakes, hit the glass, Time to shake the hands of fate The mistakes of the past, Flashed before his face
He saw his life flash before his eyes and realised all his mistakes and how people chose his life for him. Before this crash he was just in his own world guided by other people.
Don’t shake the hands of fate,
Don't just accept what other people want for you... this is YOUR LIFE no one should control it but YOU.
lala this song sounds kinda wetern at the beggingin ahha but ilove it i guess its wanting to start something new a new life move away and have everyone you knew forget about u
I agree with Junesong but also...
I think the person had a near death experience(a car accident).
Hit the brakes, hit the glass, Time to shake the hands of fate The mistakes of the past, Flashed before his face
He saw his life flash before his eyes and realised all his mistakes and how people chose his life for him. Before this crash he was just in his own world guided by other people.
Don’t shake the hands of fate,
Don't just accept what other people want for you... this is YOUR LIFE no one should control it but YOU.
this is about living a suppressed life, until, one day you break free - all these things have been thrust on you - "Boy who always did what he was told, Was promised to be king when he was old" the parents were pinning hopes on their child - some that he would never live up to - they repeated this with their faith. Eventually, he breaks free, to erase himself from his familys lives, and ends up shattering them in the process watch billy talent there gonna be huger than anything else this year, as long as they dont sell out!
Sounds like suicide to me.
Sounds like a boy "bought the only dream that he was sold," and when he realized it wasn't enough, wasn't going where he wanted it to, he decided to trash himself in a car.
I don't think it was a "near death experience" or an "accident" because of the second line, where it says, "he's gonna do out with a bang," -- this carries very deliberate overtones, to me at least.
Sounds like suicide to me.
Sounds like a boy "bought the only dream that he was sold," and when he realized it wasn't enough, wasn't going where he wanted it to, he decided to trash himself in a car.
I don't think it was a "near death experience" or an "accident" because of the second line, where it says, "he's gonna do out with a bang," -- this carries very deliberate overtones, to me at least.
The line "He's Gonna go out with a bang" pretty much says suicide. I think he feels like there's no way out because he hasn't learned the proper way..."Boy who always did what he was told" It's got a partially happy ending too, as it appears he sucessfully erases his past, and moves on with his future, "Burn the evidence of my existence". Personally, this is my favourite of the new Billy Talent songs. I quite like the beginning.
I don't think it's a suicide, if you go past the second verse you'll see that it isn't. To me this song is about someone, probably in their 30's, who's established a succesful life through traditional means. Perhaps a doctor, lawyer, Accountant, something that comes from staying in school and not breaking the mold. They didn't take advantage of their youth and haven't really lived. They stuck to the traditional path to success and as a result missed out on real life. He gets into an accident and it changes his outlook on life. He realizes that he is mortal and only has so much time left. He wants to change his life and take a path that he chooses and finally live life.
There's one man in the story (obviously) and he states he's 20, pretty young, he experiences a car accident.
(Hit the brakes, hit the glass, Time to shake the hands of fate The mistakes of the past, Flashed before his face)
This is his fate; (To realize that his life hasn't been lived to the fullest.)
(There is a man, intensive care.) (Luxury Sedan) He had a car accident.
(Burn the evidence) He's getting rid of his OLD life. He wants to become someone new.
He feels cheated out of life; his parents stuck him on the straight and narrow.
The end of the song says don't shake the hands of fate; (this is separate) as he's not suppose to die.
The song is simply about someone going through a traumatic experience and becoming someone better than he was.