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 lost sight of the raging waters
Below the surface where I lay
Fractures slip like ghosting fish
Below my fingertips
I watched the days in proud procession
Upon the icy pools above
And saw the stars like distant fires
That follow each day through
Cold dawn in the world that I made
Cold water and chiseled stone
Maybe time will one day find me
Maybe then I'll get back home
Cold dawn in a world that I made
My memories are all I know
So if you're searching, I'm still waiting
Where is time to bring me home
I don't want to be here
I don't need to be here
I don't want to be here
I don't need to be here
Cold dawn in the world that I built
Cold water and chiseled stone
Maybe time will one day find me
Maybe then I'll get back home
Cold dawn in a world that I made
My memories are all I know
So if you're searching, I'm still waiting
Where is time to bring me home
I drew regret with a dull blue pencil
Deep beneath the danger's mark
It left me here below the ocean
Below the wreckage of my heart
And now I breathe this cold dead water
No time to give what others steal
No song of life to make things better
No warmth in love for me to feel
Cold dawn in the world that I built
Cold water and chiseled stone
Maybe time will one day find me
Maybe then I'll get back home
Cold dawn in a world that I made
Where memories are all I know
So if you're searching, I'm still waiting
Where is time to bring me home
(overlapping)
Cold dawn
Waiting for the night to come
I don't need to be here
[chorus]
Where is time to bring me home
Below the surface where I lay
Fractures slip like ghosting fish
Below my fingertips
I watched the days in proud procession
Upon the icy pools above
And saw the stars like distant fires
That follow each day through
Cold dawn in the world that I made
Cold water and chiseled stone
Maybe time will one day find me
Maybe then I'll get back home
Cold dawn in a world that I made
My memories are all I know
So if you're searching, I'm still waiting
Where is time to bring me home
I don't want to be here
I don't need to be here
I don't want to be here
I don't need to be here
Cold dawn in the world that I built
Cold water and chiseled stone
Maybe time will one day find me
Maybe then I'll get back home
Cold dawn in a world that I made
My memories are all I know
So if you're searching, I'm still waiting
Where is time to bring me home
I drew regret with a dull blue pencil
Deep beneath the danger's mark
It left me here below the ocean
Below the wreckage of my heart
And now I breathe this cold dead water
No time to give what others steal
No song of life to make things better
No warmth in love for me to feel
Cold dawn in the world that I built
Cold water and chiseled stone
Maybe time will one day find me
Maybe then I'll get back home
Cold dawn in a world that I made
Where memories are all I know
So if you're searching, I'm still waiting
Where is time to bring me home
(overlapping)
Cold dawn
Waiting for the night to come
I don't need to be here
[chorus]
Where is time to bring me home
Lyrics submitted by Anrakushi
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
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I love this song, I just don't get when it says "I drew regret with a dull blue pencil". Any ideas?
I feel this is a reference to Odysseus;
"I don't want to be here I don't need to be here"
Makes me think of when he was trapped in the cave of Polyphemus...
Pretty much the rest of the song appears to be troubles at sea, which was invoked by Poisedon. I guess the "I drew regret with a dull blue pencil" is just a poetic licence towards the troubles at sea again, or possibly a reference to the object used to blind Polyphemus previous to their escape, which in turn caused many problems for their return journey.