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.
Slow decay, I won't stop fighting yet
Who do you think that is there?
I came to fight
I am in the air
I know you follow the body
Let go now
To the cold step hypnotic we go
I only call them when I know I don't see them
I only call them when I know I don't see them
Who do you think that is there?
I show beyond, slow beyond compare
I always fall in these fights, I know why
Always fall in these fights, I know why
Controlling the age, it takes a toll on my brain
Now, who do you think that is there?
Only call them when I know I don't see them
I only call them when I know I don't see them
Slow decay, I won't
Who do you think that is there?
Bite to stripe, leading out of despair
I know you follow the body
Let go now
To the cold step hypnotic
It won't stop now
You fake it with taste
Don�t mean you�re making your own way
Now who do you think, I said who do you think now?
Oh, how I pass the days
You know how much I care
Oh, through the wax and wane
You know I will be there
Oh, at your faded grace
I know now not to stare
But slow decay, I won't stop fighting yet
Who do you think that is there?
I came to fight
I am in the air
I always fall in these fights
I know why
And from the birth-strains of life I go right
But controlling my age it takes a toll on my brain
Now who do you think that is there?
Only call them when I know I don't see them
I only call them when I know I don't see them
Who do you think that is there?
I came to fight
I am in the air
I know you follow the body
Let go now
To the cold step hypnotic we go
I only call them when I know I don't see them
I only call them when I know I don't see them
Who do you think that is there?
I show beyond, slow beyond compare
I always fall in these fights, I know why
Always fall in these fights, I know why
Controlling the age, it takes a toll on my brain
Now, who do you think that is there?
Only call them when I know I don't see them
I only call them when I know I don't see them
Slow decay, I won't
Who do you think that is there?
Bite to stripe, leading out of despair
I know you follow the body
Let go now
To the cold step hypnotic
It won't stop now
You fake it with taste
Don�t mean you�re making your own way
Now who do you think, I said who do you think now?
Oh, how I pass the days
You know how much I care
Oh, through the wax and wane
You know I will be there
Oh, at your faded grace
I know now not to stare
But slow decay, I won't stop fighting yet
Who do you think that is there?
I came to fight
I am in the air
I always fall in these fights
I know why
And from the birth-strains of life I go right
But controlling my age it takes a toll on my brain
Now who do you think that is there?
Only call them when I know I don't see them
I only call them when I know I don't see them
Lyrics submitted by WooTrippy!
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I think that this song is about a man suspected of cheating by his girlfriend. The two are in a fight over a suspicious telephone call. When the girlfriend asks 'who do you think that is there?", the guy responds reasonably by saying he only calls people back when he knows who they are and that he doesn't see them, in other words, he's not seeing another person. The line 'I always fall in these fights' suggests that he has these confrontations regularly, however, despite it all he still remains devoted to his girl.
Also, I think that the line 'I know now not to swear' is 'I know now not to stare', which coincides nicely with my idea.