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.
Worn out eyes revealing an old and tired mind
Battered through years and years of merciless abuse
Facing this assault of ours is tearing me apart
Watching the soil of her slowly turn to dust
I hear her cries...screams of torment heard by none
I watch her die...signs of death are all around...
Everything we dared to hope is lost and so are we
Don't you see that all we had is lost in this search for more?
I stare into a mirror of shame and shattered pride
Feeling the heart of man drain itself of blood
Smash the mirror and try to see the other side
But all that I find is the wall we stand behind
I hear her cries...signs of death are all around...
All the years we never cared resound and leave her numb
Ain't no way for her to hide and flee her dying fate
If I could change you, if I could heal your bleeding wounds, I should...
If I could change you, if I could heal your bleeding wounds, I would...
But words are not enough
Wake up and face tomorrow now before we find our dreams a nightmare
And she slowly dies...
If I could change you, if I could heal your bleeding wounds, I should...
If I could change you, if I could heal your bleeding wounds, I would...
If I could change you, if I could heal your bleeding wounds, I should...
If I could change you, if I could heal your bleeding wounds, I would...
Battered through years and years of merciless abuse
Facing this assault of ours is tearing me apart
Watching the soil of her slowly turn to dust
I hear her cries...screams of torment heard by none
I watch her die...signs of death are all around...
Everything we dared to hope is lost and so are we
Don't you see that all we had is lost in this search for more?
I stare into a mirror of shame and shattered pride
Feeling the heart of man drain itself of blood
Smash the mirror and try to see the other side
But all that I find is the wall we stand behind
I hear her cries...signs of death are all around...
All the years we never cared resound and leave her numb
Ain't no way for her to hide and flee her dying fate
If I could change you, if I could heal your bleeding wounds, I should...
If I could change you, if I could heal your bleeding wounds, I would...
But words are not enough
Wake up and face tomorrow now before we find our dreams a nightmare
And she slowly dies...
If I could change you, if I could heal your bleeding wounds, I should...
If I could change you, if I could heal your bleeding wounds, I would...
If I could change you, if I could heal your bleeding wounds, I should...
If I could change you, if I could heal your bleeding wounds, I would...
Lyrics submitted by Idan, edited by Octavarium64
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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I would take as being that a woman is physically / verbally (both) abused by their partner and the narrator is choosing to remain silent on the matter, although they are aware of. In other words ignoring it because not their problem.
Not sure if this is meant to be taken so literal or not though. Could it be a general observation of society's choice to ignore abuse to others if it doesn't concern them directly (turn a blind eye)??
The last few verses seem to suggest that we (society) or they know they should be doing more but the question is will they??