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.
Your eyes look just like bullet holes
it must be all that crying
you haven't learned a thing at all
another helter skelter
moonlight has come and gone
the bloody writings on the wall
Chloroform girl how have you been
don't let me catch you sleeping again
you're only alive because I like you
it's been 3 years since you've seen the sunlight
but I know you're having fun
bound, gagged and chained up in my basement
You look just like a zombie
inches from dead and pretty
with purple flowers in your hair
I hear the angels crying just as the devil smiles
all the little pigs will die tonight
I hear the devil singing the most haunting melodies
I've got this overwhelming feeling of morbid ecstasy coming over me
it must be all that crying
you haven't learned a thing at all
another helter skelter
moonlight has come and gone
the bloody writings on the wall
Chloroform girl how have you been
don't let me catch you sleeping again
you're only alive because I like you
it's been 3 years since you've seen the sunlight
but I know you're having fun
bound, gagged and chained up in my basement
You look just like a zombie
inches from dead and pretty
with purple flowers in your hair
I hear the angels crying just as the devil smiles
all the little pigs will die tonight
I hear the devil singing the most haunting melodies
I've got this overwhelming feeling of morbid ecstasy coming over me
Lyrics submitted by Musikistmacht
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This song can be interpreted in many different ways. Personally, I choose not to take the lyrics for face value (the notion of a man keeping a girl chained in his basement clashes with my moral code, just a tad bit).
The singer is sort of a metaphorical devil-esque character in the girl's mind, who taunts her and the pain she is in. When he sings, "You're only alive because I like you," the girl feels as if the only reason she is still living is to be tortured by her suffering. When he sings, "Don't let me catch you sleeping again," this implies that her periods of contentment are sparse and short-lived. When the lyrics say, "but I know you're having fun," this seems to me as if the girl is a slight masochist, and might find some sort of beauty or pleasure in her pain.
Like I said earlier, this is simply the way I choose to interpret the song. There is no correct or incorrect interpretation. In any case, this is a beautiful song.
This song is probably the most blatant and intended example of lyrical dissonance I know.
No comments for this awesome song?
Its absolutely haunting
this song is so creepy, i really love it though. i think the meaning is pretty obvious. this dood is keeping a girl in his basement basically and he is fucked in the head.
beautifully haunting
I find these lyrics try to hard to be shocking. But I like the idea.
And the song is great.
I think it's just an overexaggerated song about a couple of bondage enthusiasts, maybe thought subconciously. shrug
Seriously?
80% of women have a capture and rape fantasy. This is the embodiment of it. Theres no hidden meaning no agenda. Dude kidnapped her and chained her up. He's a serial killer and this girl was special so he kept her alive, however this is the night he's going to finally kill her (all little pigs muts die tonight)
Get your heads out of your *sses and stop pretending it doesn't or can't happen. It does it's real and for many it's a fantasy.
When I heard this song it was a song that was playing on my son's Ipod. We were driving along and I was enjoy the pretty ballad. When it was finished I asked him to play it again cause I thought it was lovely. He asked me if I had really heard the lyrics. I am usually more about melody. So I listened, with my mouth hanging open at what I heard. I was most impressed with how PC had buried this dark story behind this beautiful melody. To me it has a lot to say about how in life generally we hide darkness in the world under pretty things. Many don't want to hear about these difficult things. I am most impressed with how they did this. Brilliant!