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.
passing the corners we kissed in the rain
passing these old rusted warning signs
what did they say?
I think they said, "run!"
passing the roofs of excuses we made
passing these open windows
what made me turn away?
how did I fight the flat days and the static nights?
saint rosa, she flies!
she flies with the swallows
saint rosa, i feel
I could follow back to capistrano
and I will hold you tight
through the cold days
and the frozen nights
passing our enemies
passing our friends
passing the means we use to tell the difference between
it's subtle
and I try to remember if I was ever lonely
if I was ever low? hell, hell yes I was low!
how did I fight the flat days and the static nights?
saint rosa, she flies!
she flies with the swallows
saint rosa, i feel
I could follow back to capistrano
and I will hold you tight
through the cold days
and the frozen nights
passing all the days I switched to auto mode
days for which I've nothing to show
pausing all the days I'm afraid I'll forget
the days only clear for a second
the days only clear for a second
days only clear for a second
but I will hold you tight
through the cold days
and the frozen nights
when it's
cold cold cold
passing these old rusted warning signs
what did they say?
I think they said, "run!"
passing the roofs of excuses we made
passing these open windows
what made me turn away?
how did I fight the flat days and the static nights?
saint rosa, she flies!
she flies with the swallows
saint rosa, i feel
I could follow back to capistrano
and I will hold you tight
through the cold days
and the frozen nights
passing our enemies
passing our friends
passing the means we use to tell the difference between
it's subtle
and I try to remember if I was ever lonely
if I was ever low? hell, hell yes I was low!
how did I fight the flat days and the static nights?
saint rosa, she flies!
she flies with the swallows
saint rosa, i feel
I could follow back to capistrano
and I will hold you tight
through the cold days
and the frozen nights
passing all the days I switched to auto mode
days for which I've nothing to show
pausing all the days I'm afraid I'll forget
the days only clear for a second
the days only clear for a second
days only clear for a second
but I will hold you tight
through the cold days
and the frozen nights
when it's
cold cold cold
Lyrics submitted by Jay_Fiedler
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Santa Rosa de Lima, or Saint Rosa, was the first saint canonized by the Roman Catholic church in the Americas. She disfigured her face using pepper and lye because she felt it was unfair that she was so beautiful. She then vowed to remain a virgin and devoted her life to charitable acts and helping people less fortunate than herself. How this relates to the swallows returning to Capistrano, I have absolutely zero idea, but I think Or S is correct in stating that it relates to the return of the swallows to the Capistrano Mission in California.