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.
My hands are broken
And time is going on and on it goes
Forever
(How long?)
So I got high and
Lived all that life had I have taken all
For granted
Promise me you'll try
To leave it all behind
'Cause I've elected hell
Lying to myself
Why have I gone blind?
Live another life
You
You
The only way out
Is letting your guard down and never die
Forgotten
(I know)
Forgive me, my love
I stand here all alone and I can see
The bottom
Promise me you'll try
To leave it all behind
'Cause I've elected hell
Lying to myself
Why have I gone blind?
Live another life
You
You
You
You
You
You
And time is going on and on it goes
Forever
(How long?)
So I got high and
Lived all that life had I have taken all
For granted
Promise me you'll try
To leave it all behind
'Cause I've elected hell
Lying to myself
Why have I gone blind?
Live another life
You
You
The only way out
Is letting your guard down and never die
Forgotten
(I know)
Forgive me, my love
I stand here all alone and I can see
The bottom
Promise me you'll try
To leave it all behind
'Cause I've elected hell
Lying to myself
Why have I gone blind?
Live another life
You
You
You
You
You
You
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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,
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Ed Sheeran
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“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
f-fashions interpretation is very good...i guess you could also look at it another way, like... he could be talking about how he feels bad for cheating on his girlfriend or whatever, and wants her to forgive him...or something like that...
My hands are broken and time is going on and on it goes forever
--his hands broken means he feels bad for cheating on her and it seems like time is going on forever because she knows about it and it will never be the same between them...
how long [background]
---how long will this go on??
So i got high and lived all the life that I have taken all for granted
--hes talking about how he used to be before, he got high and cheated on her, and other things soo and just took life for granted
Promise me you'll try to leave it all behind 'Cause I've elected hell lying to myself why have I gone blind? living out a lie
--he feels really bad, and hes asking her to leave it all behind, because he made a mistake...he lied to himself at first saying it was ok, and he elected hell by choosing to cheat on her...he wonders why hes gone blind because he cheated on her, and lied about it later
The only way out is letting your guard down and never die forgotten
-the only way out of this mess is if she would let her guard down and forgive her...but she doesnt have to forget it
how long [background]
--again, how long will he be suffering
forgive me my love I stand here all alone and I can see the bottom
--he wants her to forgive him, he cant stand being alone without her, and he can feel himself slipping so far away, like he can see the bottom (end) of the relationship
You x7
--aka...kinda saying this song is all about her