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.
If I ruled the earth I'd sail ships over seas till sundown.
Then I'd return in dark to walk these streets alone.
By day I hear the serpents calling me
This leads me from the shore in search of the deepest abyss.
I am forever covering my tracks, I'm standing hear with little less than an existence.
Though I hold the keys to everything.
This sinking feeling never dies.
I'll chase my sunset laced with pride in this heartless gallion.
Although I'd rather fill my lungs and rapidly descend.
And lay with my thoughts under a bleak starlight.
I'll keep pushing on though this perpetually darkness.
Then in hell I'll seek my confidence.
Then I'd return in dark to walk these streets alone.
The twilight here won't embrace my words like waves do.
The feeling of dryland is making me sick.
So I stand here coughing up sharks till
My neon glowing neck breaks
This sinking feeling never dies
I'll chase my sunset laced with pride in this heartless gallion
Walking through the dark hears to a new beginning.
It's time to bow your heads to a nations swinging axe.
While you search for answers planted in the ground.
I'm happy watching you dance your legs down to your knees.
I'm happy watching you be inflactuated with love.
I'm happy watching you... watching you die
This war with myself never ends.
This war with myself never...
The only way I'd return is to an orchestra on wolves.
The only way I'd return is if I ruled the earth.
Then I'd return in dark to walk these streets alone.
By day I hear the serpents calling me
This leads me from the shore in search of the deepest abyss.
I am forever covering my tracks, I'm standing hear with little less than an existence.
Though I hold the keys to everything.
This sinking feeling never dies.
I'll chase my sunset laced with pride in this heartless gallion.
Although I'd rather fill my lungs and rapidly descend.
And lay with my thoughts under a bleak starlight.
I'll keep pushing on though this perpetually darkness.
Then in hell I'll seek my confidence.
Then I'd return in dark to walk these streets alone.
The twilight here won't embrace my words like waves do.
The feeling of dryland is making me sick.
So I stand here coughing up sharks till
My neon glowing neck breaks
This sinking feeling never dies
I'll chase my sunset laced with pride in this heartless gallion
Walking through the dark hears to a new beginning.
It's time to bow your heads to a nations swinging axe.
While you search for answers planted in the ground.
I'm happy watching you dance your legs down to your knees.
I'm happy watching you be inflactuated with love.
I'm happy watching you... watching you die
This war with myself never ends.
This war with myself never...
The only way I'd return is to an orchestra on wolves.
The only way I'd return is if I ruled the earth.
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
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
yeah, i didn't like this at all first. you know, being accustomed to Crafter's voice and all. but yeah, after sitting down to listen to this, i've found a liking for it afterall. it's not a half bad album, but it's grown tiring.