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'm your Opheliac
I've been so disillusioned
I know you'd take me back
But still I feigned confusion
I couldn't be your friend
My world was too unstable
You might have seen the end
But you were never able
To keep me breathing
As the water rises up again
Before I slip away
You know the games I play
And the words I say
When I want my own way
You know the lies I tell
When you've gone through hell
And I say I can't stay
You know how hard it can be
To keep believing in me
When everything and everyone
Becomes my enemy and when
There's nothing more you can do
I'm gonna blame it on you
It's not the way I want to be
I only hope that in the end you will see
It's the Opheliac in me
It's the Opheliac in me
I'm your Opheliac
My stocking prove my virtues
I'm open to attack
But I don't want to hurt you
Whether I swim or sink
That's no concern of yours now
How could you possibly think
You had the power to know how
To keep me breathing
As the water rises up again
Before I slip away
You know the games I play
And the words I say
When I want my own way
You know the lies I tell
When you've gone through hell
And I say I can't stay
You know how hard it can be
To keep believing in me
When everything and everyone
Becomes my enemy and when
There's nothing more you can do
I'm gonna blame it on you
It's not the way I want to be
I only hope that in the end you will see
It's the Opheliac in me
It's the Opheliac in me
Studies Show...
Intelligent girls are more depressed
Because they know
What the world is really like
Don't think for a beat it makes it better
When you sit her down and tell her
Everything's gonna all right
She knows in society she either is
A devil or an angel with no in between
She speaks in third person
So she can forget that she's me
Doubt thou the stars are fire
Doubt thou the sun doth move
Doubt truth to be a liar
But never doubt
Doubt thou the stars are fire
Doubt thou the sun doth move
Doubt truth to be a liar
But never doubt
Doubt thou the stars are fire
Doubt thou the sun doth move
Doubt truth to be a liar
But never doubt I love
You know the games I play
And the words I say
When I want my own way
You know the lies I tell
When you've gone through hell
And I say I can't stay
You know how hard it can be
To keep believing in me
When everything and everyone
Becomes my enemy and when
There's nothing more you can do
I'm gonna blame it on you
It's not the way I want to be
I only hope that in the end you will see
But never doubt
You know the games I play
And the words I say
When I want my own way
You know the lies I tell
When you've gone through hell
And I say I can't stay
You know how hard it can be
To keep believing in me
When everything and everyone
Becomes my enemy and when
There's nothing more you can do
I'm gonna blame it on you
It's not the way I want to be
I only hope that in the end you will see
I've been so disillusioned
I know you'd take me back
But still I feigned confusion
I couldn't be your friend
My world was too unstable
You might have seen the end
But you were never able
To keep me breathing
As the water rises up again
Before I slip away
You know the games I play
And the words I say
When I want my own way
You know the lies I tell
When you've gone through hell
And I say I can't stay
You know how hard it can be
To keep believing in me
When everything and everyone
Becomes my enemy and when
There's nothing more you can do
I'm gonna blame it on you
It's not the way I want to be
I only hope that in the end you will see
It's the Opheliac in me
It's the Opheliac in me
I'm your Opheliac
My stocking prove my virtues
I'm open to attack
But I don't want to hurt you
Whether I swim or sink
That's no concern of yours now
How could you possibly think
You had the power to know how
To keep me breathing
As the water rises up again
Before I slip away
You know the games I play
And the words I say
When I want my own way
You know the lies I tell
When you've gone through hell
And I say I can't stay
You know how hard it can be
To keep believing in me
When everything and everyone
Becomes my enemy and when
There's nothing more you can do
I'm gonna blame it on you
It's not the way I want to be
I only hope that in the end you will see
It's the Opheliac in me
It's the Opheliac in me
Studies Show...
Intelligent girls are more depressed
Because they know
What the world is really like
Don't think for a beat it makes it better
When you sit her down and tell her
Everything's gonna all right
She knows in society she either is
A devil or an angel with no in between
She speaks in third person
So she can forget that she's me
Doubt thou the stars are fire
Doubt thou the sun doth move
Doubt truth to be a liar
But never doubt
Doubt thou the stars are fire
Doubt thou the sun doth move
Doubt truth to be a liar
But never doubt
Doubt thou the stars are fire
Doubt thou the sun doth move
Doubt truth to be a liar
But never doubt I love
You know the games I play
And the words I say
When I want my own way
You know the lies I tell
When you've gone through hell
And I say I can't stay
You know how hard it can be
To keep believing in me
When everything and everyone
Becomes my enemy and when
There's nothing more you can do
I'm gonna blame it on you
It's not the way I want to be
I only hope that in the end you will see
But never doubt
You know the games I play
And the words I say
When I want my own way
You know the lies I tell
When you've gone through hell
And I say I can't stay
You know how hard it can be
To keep believing in me
When everything and everyone
Becomes my enemy and when
There's nothing more you can do
I'm gonna blame it on you
It's not the way I want to be
I only hope that in the end you will see
Lyrics submitted by Sparkle_motion, edited by Shalott
Opheliac Lyrics as written by Emilie Autumn
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I had to read Hamlet again after first hearing this song (love Hamlet lovelovelove ^_^ ). And this song is very odd to me because the vast majority of it sounds like Hamlet rather than Ophelia, especially the chorus. Even the drowning imagery - Ophelia wasn't able to help him when he became overwhelmed by all he had to deal with. This line is especially interesting: "She speaks in the third person / So she can forget that she's me." Then there's the lines quoted DIRECTLY FROM Hamlet himself. Erm...I started listing more lines that make me think of Hamlet and I saw that my post was getting too long! I think this song is more Hamlet through reference of Ophelia than the other way around. Anyone else notice this switcharoo?
If you break into phrases and line,<br /> long passages are easier to read.
Yes! I noticed too. Sometimes it seems like it's Hamlets POV and other times it's Ophelia's. <br /> "I know you'd take me back <br /> But still I feign confusion" <br /> -Hamlet knowing Ophelia still loves him, but continuing his "insane" act<br /> <br /> "I couldn't be your friend <br /> My world was too unstable <br /> You might have seen the end <br /> But you were never able"<br /> -Halmet was starting to get closer to Ophelia when all his problems started, Ophelia couldn't help him even though she saw him in trouble<br /> <br /> "You know the games I play and the words I say when I want my own way <br /> You know the lies I tell when you've gone through hell and I say I can't stay" <br /> -Hamlet constantly plays mind games with Ophelia and does anything for his own plans<br /> <br /> "You know how hard it can be to keep believing in me <br /> When everything and everyone becomes my enemy <br /> And when there's nothing more you can do I'm gona blame it on you" <br />
Thank you so much for your comment. You have validated my own thoughts.
I wasn't suggesting that living wasn't complicated, and that reality doesn't throw shit at you, but what do you want to do? Sit around being depressed because you're so much more intelligent that you can see these things other, less intelligent, people simply can not (this statement alone, dripping with arrogance) What is it? The world lies? Fuckin' a it does, and i'm not sure how much intelligence you need to see that. So lets all sit around and be despondent, right? I ain't the one telling you it's gonna be alright, but it can start getting a whole lot better if take your brain out of that self centered mind frame this songs appears to be rising up from.
The irresponsibility people have for their own actions these days is appalling. Perhaps she's being sarcastic (doubtful) but its when people start identifying with this, draping its meaning across themselves proudly that leaves me flabbergasted.
All instances of "you" are in the general sense, Matt. I wasn't meaning you specifically.
All instances of "you" are in the general sense, Matt. I wasn't meaning you specifically. <br /> <br /> that's why I speak in the third person
I love this song, it has to be my favorite song by Emilie Autumn. :D
I like it too I'm buying the album
READ HAMLET all shall become clear. the doubt thou bit is taken from there in a letter from hamle to ophelia
A dane astronomer of the Shakespear times<br /> had discovered a new star that moved in the celestial sphere.<br /> The star was a super nova. The scientist did not know this.<br /> Up until this point, the stars were thought to be enternal,<br /> but now those in Denmark saw that the stars were perhaps like fire.<br /> Hence Hamlet's line "doubt now, the stars are fire"
I read Hamlet, a great story... Like all Emilie´s song, this one is really deep. I like it really really much
I, too, love this song. I'm addicted to it.
I, too, love this song. I'm addicted to it.
sunoXcore is right, this song is in reference to Hamlet's Ophelia. An Opheliac is "someone who has delved into madness." EA also said that an Opehliac is a girl who is left devastated by the men that control her. And even then counties to allow that control. Or something like that.
Oops! I meant to type sumpyXcore. Sorry! ^_^;