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.
Sometimes love feels like pain,
And sometimes I wonder if it's all the same,
Sometimes life, feels just like rain,
'cause you never know when it's gonna fall down on you
[Chorus]
I wish you well, I wish you well,
On this trip to find yourself,
I wish you well, wish I could help,
But I can't help you find yourself
Sometimes faith, feels like doubt
And sometimes I wonder if we'll even get out
Sometimes life hurts just like now,
But ya gotta know, it's all gonna come back around
[Chorus]
Find yourself,
I can't help you find yourself,
Find yourself..
And we were sixteen at the time,
Nothing could ever change our minds,
We were one step below invincible,
And we always fought it, you've never been the same,
You were so scared to make a name,
Then you threw it all away,
And I wish you'd come back now.
[Chorus: x 2]
[Chorus]
Find yourself,
I can't help you find yourself,
Find yourself,
I can't help you find yourself...
And sometimes I wonder if it's all the same,
Sometimes life, feels just like rain,
'cause you never know when it's gonna fall down on you
[Chorus]
I wish you well, I wish you well,
On this trip to find yourself,
I wish you well, wish I could help,
But I can't help you find yourself
Sometimes faith, feels like doubt
And sometimes I wonder if we'll even get out
Sometimes life hurts just like now,
But ya gotta know, it's all gonna come back around
[Chorus]
Find yourself,
I can't help you find yourself,
Find yourself..
And we were sixteen at the time,
Nothing could ever change our minds,
We were one step below invincible,
And we always fought it, you've never been the same,
You were so scared to make a name,
Then you threw it all away,
And I wish you'd come back now.
[Chorus: x 2]
[Chorus]
Find yourself,
I can't help you find yourself,
Find yourself,
I can't help you find yourself...
Lyrics submitted by simply__me
Wish You Well Lyrics as written by Mary Karlzen
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
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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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,
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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.
I think its actually about his former guitar player Dave Smith who was in his other band with him. "We were 16 at the time" There are several references that make this seem like its about Dave and wishing he would come back to the band.
The best part of the song is And we were 16 at the time Nothing could ever change our minds We were one step below invincible And we always fought it You've never been the same You were so scared to make a name Then you threw it all away And I wish you'd come back now
Thats so powerful. this song fits my situation right now
This song is about God and what he would say to us. Clear as that. In the first verse, He knows that hardships will happen and he's warning him that it is going to happen, but he can't give him the answers to the problems... he has to find it himself. The chorus is God saying that:
"I wish you well on this trip to find yourself... wish I could help, but I can't help you find yourself"
The second verse comes after a hardship has come upon him. He loses his faith in God and isn't restoring that relationship with him, but is foreshadowing when he says "it's all gonna come back around"... life won't be like this forever
and then God is reminiscing their past in the bridge:
"And we were 16 at the time Nothing could ever change our minds We were one step below invincible And we always fought it You've never been the same You were so scared to make a name Then you threw it all away And I wish you'd come back now"
He found God at the age of sixteen, and they were together for a time. They went through a lot together, in fact, their relationship was so strong, they were practically invincible. And then he moved away from God and went to other things and therfore wasn't acting like himself, and God misses having that relationship with him and he wants him to come back to him, thus the ending:
"Find yourself I can't help you find yourself"
He wants that relationship to start up again that he says that he has to find himself again in order for that relationship to begin again.
WELL that's just what I picked up from reading that song. But I also thought of Dave Smith when I first heard the song... maybe Trev had Dave in mind when he was writing. Very good song. I love it <3
I am a Christian who looks for God in a lot of music, but in this song, I dont think it is God talking to him. I think he is talking to a good friend who possibly gave up God or has changed but its not God talking to him.
I'm gonna have to agree with ebirdyca on this. I believe this song could mean one of three things.
It's about the guitar player who left the band, Dave Smith. It's about someone who's probably on the verge of giving up. I can relate to this song, as I had a friend who was in the exact same place in life at one point. It's hard watching someone go through that and knowing that you can't do much to help them. Or maybe it is about someone losing faith in God.
Interpret it how you will, I say. Personally, I'm more willing to bet it's the first one.
This song totally fits a situation i was going through with one of my friends. She rejected Jesus, and no matter how much i talked with her about it, she still said no. Then i heard this song and it totally impacted me. I can put myself in the place of Trevor McNevan and sing this to my friend, because even though i tried my best, theres only so much we can do, and in the end, its up to God to do the saving.
actually everyone interpenetrates songs and their lyrics different. The actual meaning behind this song is simple. Its about being close with someone, feeling like your in the same place and then having to step back and watch them make decisions in their life that hurt them, in the end, all you can do is love them through it despite it being a painful experience to endure.
no more, no less. :)
(hope that clarifies it)
I think its about someone trevor used to know, he was friends with him or her, but now that person has to make a choice of their own, and find themself, the chorus means that trevor wishes them well to find themself, and wishes he could help more so they find god and follow him, but he can't help anymore than he has.
Sometimes faith feels like doubt And sometimes I wonder if we'll ever get out Sometimes life hurts just like now But you gotta now its all gonna come back around
He begins to doubt his faith here, because this person won't listen to him, he wants them to come back around.
Anyone agree?
yeah, maybe someone who used to follow God, but changed. all in all its a great song, it makes me think whenever i hear it.
i agree...
'sometimes light feels just like rain' isn't it life?
Anyways I think he's trying to tell someone that, well yeah life is hard... but we all go through the rain, the pain and the doubt... and he's trying really hard to help this person but there's only so much he can do... he wishes he can help but in the end we have to help ourselves and our source of happiness and no one can actually do it for us.