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 was born in a swamp
I was born with no clothes on
I was born in a swamp
I was born with no clothes on
I broke off and became something breathing
I was fast; there were packs I was leading
I was born in a swamp
I was born with no clothes on
Tripped out the devil spoke to me
Through my high fingertips
Which were in the ground
The same beneath you now
Which means I’m alive
Which means I’m not dead
This god of your holy books I do not agree with him
I will not be one more servant
I will not bow to anything
Not a puff of smoke or the flash of a turning mirror
Let’s talk about your real fears
Like that you might actually be all alone
No happy heavenly home
To return to god, dispenser of judgmental pencil shavings
He’s got baggies full for you
But I’ve got a planet packed with proof
Oh, to understand
You must spend time alone
To comprehend
You must spend time alone
To be together
We must spend time alone
And I am the only thing that's controlling
My functions, my habits, and hands
And I’m alone in the vastness
Hollow vacuum
I take my chances
And I am holding all my horses tight
We’ve become breathlessly dark
And we're coming up for light
I have cobwebs for maps
I’m walking in circles again
I’m walking in circles again
I’m walking in circles again
I’m walking in circles again
I have cobwebs for maps
I was born with no clothes on
I was born in a swamp
I was born with no clothes on
I broke off and became something breathing
I was fast; there were packs I was leading
I was born in a swamp
I was born with no clothes on
Tripped out the devil spoke to me
Through my high fingertips
Which were in the ground
The same beneath you now
Which means I’m alive
Which means I’m not dead
This god of your holy books I do not agree with him
I will not be one more servant
I will not bow to anything
Not a puff of smoke or the flash of a turning mirror
Let’s talk about your real fears
Like that you might actually be all alone
No happy heavenly home
To return to god, dispenser of judgmental pencil shavings
He’s got baggies full for you
But I’ve got a planet packed with proof
Oh, to understand
You must spend time alone
To comprehend
You must spend time alone
To be together
We must spend time alone
And I am the only thing that's controlling
My functions, my habits, and hands
And I’m alone in the vastness
Hollow vacuum
I take my chances
And I am holding all my horses tight
We’ve become breathlessly dark
And we're coming up for light
I have cobwebs for maps
I’m walking in circles again
I’m walking in circles again
I’m walking in circles again
I’m walking in circles again
I have cobwebs for maps
Lyrics submitted by vossler
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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
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.
"I have cobwebs for maps" means he doesn't have a set path like Christians do. Christians/Jews/Hindus/etc are all working for a greater being or cause (for God, to get into heaven, Hindus working for rebirth, etc), but this dude singing is just lost because he knows we're all alone.
Love how this guy writes so bluntly. So needed.
So I think the meaning of this song is pretty obvious: it's talking about atheism. "This god of your holy books I do not agree with him."
I'm not sure I get the part about being born in a swamp, or "I have cobwebs for maps", though.
I was born in a swamp, i broke off and became something breathing, i was fast there were packs i was leading. Hes talking about evolution, fishfrogs to monkeys to people or whatevs. And about the cobwebs hes trying to imply he as no idea where hes going or what hes doing, even tho most spiders cobwebs are very semetricle and would be pretty easy to navigate :P
i think the swamp means he is from this earth and nowhere else, opposed to from heaven, or god. and the using spider webs for maps signifies that he uses things in the world or thigns around him to help guide his way, real things. as in not god.
as in there is no god. as in god isnt real. as in religon is fake.
i love the lyrics to this song.
I actually believe that he's saying "I was born in a swarm."
no, it was "i was born in a swamp". listen harder, it's right.
this whole CD is very native-american themed, basically i agree with what MitchDouglas said. he is telling of being one with the earth, living a neverending circle of life.
cobwebs for maps may be a reference to their veganism.
the beginning is a story of a trip he had. i think, if anything, he had some kind of epiphany while high and wrote about it. there is some intentional symbolism and methaphors in there too. cobwebs for maps, just think of what a web looks like. its an intricate web that ultimately is a circle. good song, the dude can write.
there seems to be a theme of evolution and darwinism in weatherbox's songs including this one.. " i was born in a swamp/with no clothes on/broke off became something breathing" humans evolved from tiny organisms in the water and through evolution "broke off" crawled out of the swamp and became something breathing
the second part refers to atheism "this god of your holy books....you might actually be alone" there is no god..."ive got a planet packed with proof" ie darwinism/ evolution
the rest continues along this line... "cobwebs for maps" and walking in circles may refer to the fact that no matter what he looks at he comes to the same conclusion...no god
i would be interested to know the meaning of "judgemental pencil shavings"
"judgemental pencil shavings" i always think of that line as like, "god" throwing baggies of things that don't matter or effect you.