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 you mend the patches of my clothin'
You know every thread goes through my heart
Guessin' that the river's gonna dry up
Well, I said that's not the reason why we bard
Lookin' 'round the corner where I left you
Wonderin' whatever led me there
Knowin' that a quiet, unconscious feeling could be bought to drown a memory anywhere
She said, "I don't want your medicine and I don't need the sparrow in my art (heart?)"
When I'm covered by the thunder I get rid of all your breath deep in my lungs
Splayed in the wind apart
And when I touch the ceiling on a spring day
Wishin' it could heed up every crow
So that they could lift me by my shoulders
Take me from this frozen lake and let you know
Just that I want to be your medicine I want to feed the sparrow in your art
When I'm covered by the thunder I'll get rid of all the breath deep in our lungs
Splayed the wind apart
Hell I'm still standing 'round the corner where I left you
Diggin' up a quite sufficient track
Never know when you're behind that angle with a tranquilizer gun in your sweet pair(?)
Oh I want to be your medicine I want to feed the sparrow in your art
When we're covered by the thunder we'd become just one and feel the lightning shard
Splayed the wind apart
You know every thread goes through my heart
Guessin' that the river's gonna dry up
Well, I said that's not the reason why we bard
Lookin' 'round the corner where I left you
Wonderin' whatever led me there
Knowin' that a quiet, unconscious feeling could be bought to drown a memory anywhere
She said, "I don't want your medicine and I don't need the sparrow in my art (heart?)"
When I'm covered by the thunder I get rid of all your breath deep in my lungs
Splayed in the wind apart
And when I touch the ceiling on a spring day
Wishin' it could heed up every crow
So that they could lift me by my shoulders
Take me from this frozen lake and let you know
Just that I want to be your medicine I want to feed the sparrow in your art
When I'm covered by the thunder I'll get rid of all the breath deep in our lungs
Splayed the wind apart
Hell I'm still standing 'round the corner where I left you
Diggin' up a quite sufficient track
Never know when you're behind that angle with a tranquilizer gun in your sweet pair(?)
Oh I want to be your medicine I want to feed the sparrow in your art
When we're covered by the thunder we'd become just one and feel the lightning shard
Splayed the wind apart
Lyrics submitted by chickenflicker, edited by Mellow_Harsher, zetruz
The Sparrow and the Medicine Lyrics as written by Kristian Matsson
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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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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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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splitting the winds apart, i'm pretty sure. how do you split something like the wind? a beautiful thought
i agree with Malenkaja who said that this song is about choosing addiction over love. Especially the line "still standing on the corner where i left you, digging up a quite sufficient track" has the obvious connotation that he is still addicted, where he was when she left, track literally referring to track marks.
it's a beautiful song about regret, i think.