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.
Save your best moves. It gets weird
Billions of cops, smoke and mirrors
Carrying creed cards we all race for death
Hope to be saved by our next breath
Walk the beat. It takes years
You'll drive a mustache or a beard
We find a rhythm and we fight in song yeah
All night long, all night long
Today, I thought of seeing you
Today, I thought of early days
I thought of two cities privileged but estranged
Today, our old construction site
Today, a building incomplete
You aren't missing anything
But you're missing
Good morning everyone
I hope I didn't sleep too long
I was dreaming of a failed career
Killing fields, smoke and mirrors
Today, I speak of missing you
Today, I think of better days
I see an old city will never be the same
Today, our old construction site
Is missing everything
You're missing everything
You're missing everything
Today, I finished what we started
Today, I thought you might be proud
We have recorded your defeat
An album always incomplete
We were once young
We were once pure
What happened to you?
Billions of cops, smoke and mirrors
Carrying creed cards we all race for death
Hope to be saved by our next breath
Walk the beat. It takes years
You'll drive a mustache or a beard
We find a rhythm and we fight in song yeah
All night long, all night long
Today, I thought of seeing you
Today, I thought of early days
I thought of two cities privileged but estranged
Today, our old construction site
Today, a building incomplete
You aren't missing anything
But you're missing
Good morning everyone
I hope I didn't sleep too long
I was dreaming of a failed career
Killing fields, smoke and mirrors
Today, I speak of missing you
Today, I think of better days
I see an old city will never be the same
Today, our old construction site
Is missing everything
You're missing everything
You're missing everything
Today, I finished what we started
Today, I thought you might be proud
We have recorded your defeat
An album always incomplete
We were once young
We were once pure
What happened to you?
Lyrics submitted by MizunoPunk
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
One of the best songs of the year.
I think this song is another of Joey's emotional struggles with the loss of Derrick and how it's affected him. He's talking about the album that they started working on together but didn't finish together because of Derrick's suicide ("An album always incomplete"). I really like the line "We have recorded your defeat." It's very blunt in a sad way. Basically saying that this album is a recording - both of music and Joey's lyrical/emotional reaction - of Derrick's "defeat" of ending his own life. Joey has such an incredible way of expressing himself, and the music always fits the lyrics in an amazing way.
i agree.
i agree the line we have recorded your defeat is my favorite line ever.