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.
When the time comes I put my feet in the water
It's not as warm as I expect
Will I go down like a preachers son?
Or will I come back up like a world war vet?
Will I watch my brothers die?
Speak true words into their lives?
Will I hold them close and tell them why
The life they led was sacrifice?
I don't know much
But I know about love
And how it hurts me to give up
It hurts me to give up
When the time comes I put my hands on the table
They are examined for what they are
A long life line that's been cut short
By the road, the time, the battle scars
What I would give to be back home
Where the sunsets over the water
Someone save me from these preachers sons
Save me from their daughters
Still I don't know much but
But I know about love
And how it hurts me to give up
It hurts me to give up
Why do we always say we're fine
When it's obvious we lie
Why don't we ever tell the truth
What do we got to lose?
And I don't know much
But I know about love
And how it hurts me to give up
It hurts me to give up
And I don't know much
But I know about love
And how it hurts me to give up
It hurts me to give up
It's not as warm as I expect
Will I go down like a preachers son?
Or will I come back up like a world war vet?
Will I watch my brothers die?
Speak true words into their lives?
Will I hold them close and tell them why
The life they led was sacrifice?
I don't know much
But I know about love
And how it hurts me to give up
It hurts me to give up
When the time comes I put my hands on the table
They are examined for what they are
A long life line that's been cut short
By the road, the time, the battle scars
What I would give to be back home
Where the sunsets over the water
Someone save me from these preachers sons
Save me from their daughters
Still I don't know much but
But I know about love
And how it hurts me to give up
It hurts me to give up
Why do we always say we're fine
When it's obvious we lie
Why don't we ever tell the truth
What do we got to lose?
And I don't know much
But I know about love
And how it hurts me to give up
It hurts me to give up
And I don't know much
But I know about love
And how it hurts me to give up
It hurts me to give up
Lyrics submitted by thesablerose
When the Time Comes Lyrics as written by Matthew Mac Donald
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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,
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
"When the time comes put my feet in the water, it's not as warm as I expect Will I go down like a preacher's son, or will I come back up like a world war vet? Will I watch my brothers die, or speak true words into their lives? Will I hold them close and tell them why, the life they lead was sacrifice?"
Sounds like a soldier that goes to war, and it's not what he thought it'd be like. And he's wondering if he'll be able to spread the word while he's out there. Or the "soldier" thing could just mean the sacrifice that Christian's live. We live as soldiers, fighting against The Enemy. So in this life, we have to spread God's love as much as we can.
"I don't know much, but I know about love and how it hurts me to give up It hurts me to give up"
Love. God is love.
"When the time comes put my hands on the table, they are examined for that they are A long life line that's been cut short, by the road, the time, the battle scars Would I would give to be back home, where the sun sets over the water Someone save me from these preacher's sons, save me from their daughters"
The time he is talking about could be death. Going back over your life before you die. It's either dying in battle (figurative or literal). Home is either his actual house or in Heaven, with God. The last line almost sounds like he is saying these people are being hypocrites, so get me out of here!
"Still I don't know much, but I know about love and how it hurts me to give up It hurts me to give up"
"Why do we always say we're fine, when it's obviously we're lying? Why don't we ever tell the truth, what do we got to lose?"
Withholding the truth goes along with the premis that the song is about spreading the word of God, like a Christian soldier. I'm thinking more and more that battle and war, it's all just imagery.
I want to step back for a second to this line: "Someone save me from these preacher's sons, save me from their daughters"
It sorta sounds just like how the rest of the world is today: making fun of Christianity and shunning the followers who show a bit of imperfection. Going along with the Christian soldier imagery- that is who we are to people. We need to change that.
OR
Maybe it's quite literal- the singer is saying Get me away from these people who pretend they're perfect. Those who think God holds them in higher regard. I'd like to hear if anyone has any other interpretations, especially on that line.