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.
A man in my shoes runs a light
And all the papers lied tonight
But falling over you
Is the news of the day
Angels fall like rain
And love is all of heaven away
Inside you the time moves
And she don't fade
The ghost in you
She don't fade
Inside you the time moves
And she don't fade
A race is on I'm on your side
And hearing you my engines die
I'm in a mood for you
For running away
Stars come down in you
And love, you can't give it away
Inside you the time moves
And she don't fade
The ghost in you
She don't fade
Inside you the time moves
And she don't fade
Don't you go
It makes no sense
When all your talking supermen
Just take away the time
And get in the way
Ain't it just like rain
And love, is only heaven away
Inside you the time moves
And she don't fade
The ghost in you
She don't fade
Inside you the time moves
And she don't fade
And all the papers lied tonight
But falling over you
Is the news of the day
Angels fall like rain
And love is all of heaven away
Inside you the time moves
And she don't fade
The ghost in you
She don't fade
Inside you the time moves
And she don't fade
A race is on I'm on your side
And hearing you my engines die
I'm in a mood for you
For running away
Stars come down in you
And love, you can't give it away
Inside you the time moves
And she don't fade
The ghost in you
She don't fade
Inside you the time moves
And she don't fade
Don't you go
It makes no sense
When all your talking supermen
Just take away the time
And get in the way
Ain't it just like rain
And love, is only heaven away
Inside you the time moves
And she don't fade
The ghost in you
She don't fade
Inside you the time moves
And she don't fade
Lyrics submitted by Major Valor, edited by Ritzytrailer
The Ghost in You Lyrics as written by Timothy Butler Richard Lofthouse Butler
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Sentric Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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I'm just going on a whim here, but I think it's about a girl he used to love, she might be dead or alive, and the thought of her won't "fade."
The race might be time trying to take those feelings away from him but he'll always be "on her side."
Those supermen could be other men trying to woo her away and just getting in the way.
Anyway, those are my thoughts. Amazing song by the Furs. Love their stuff.
@nikkopotamus This is pretty much how I read it: A ong-ago love that lingers in his heart and that distracts him. In his dustraction, he runs a light. A couple of later lines fit my theme, and a bunch don't. Hey, that's poetry! And really, who understands poetry?
@nikkopotamus This is pretty much how I read it: A ong-ago love that lingers in his heart and that distracts him. In his distraction/rumination/daydreaming of the past, he runs a light. Maybe the papers lying = the present moment of real life is meaningless ehrn you're hooked by the past. A couple of later lines fit my theme, and a bunch don't. Hey, that's poetry! And really, who understands poetry? We bring to art what fits our personal stories.