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.
In the salsify mains of what was thought but unsaid
All the calcified arithmatists were doing the math
And it would take a calculated blow to the head
To light the eyes of all the harmless sociopaths
Oh arm in arm we are the harmless sociopaths
Oh, arm in arm with all the harmless sociopaths
Calcium mines are buried deep in your chest
Oh the calcium mines you buried deep in your chest
Ooh
You're deep in a mine
Ooh
A calcium mine
Oh
Let's get out of here
Past the atmosphere
Squint your eyes and no one dies or goes to jail
Past the silver bridge
Oh the silver bridge wearing nothing but a one-sie and a veil
Ooh
You're deep in a mine, o-o-oh
Ooh
A calcium mine
Oh no no
Arm in arm we are the harmless sociopaths
Oh arm in arm with all the harmless sociopaths
In the calcium mines buried deep in your chest
Oh the calcium mines buried deep in your chest
Ooh
Deep in a mine, oh-no
Ooh
A calcium mine
Oh-no
So let's get out of here
Past the atmosphere
Squint your eyes and no one dies or goes to jail
Past the silver bridge
Oh the silver bridge wearing nothing but a one-sie and a veil
Oh-no
Oh-no
Oh-no
Oh-no
All the calcified arithmatists were doing the math
And it would take a calculated blow to the head
To light the eyes of all the harmless sociopaths
Oh arm in arm we are the harmless sociopaths
Oh, arm in arm with all the harmless sociopaths
Calcium mines are buried deep in your chest
Oh the calcium mines you buried deep in your chest
Ooh
You're deep in a mine
Ooh
A calcium mine
Oh
Let's get out of here
Past the atmosphere
Squint your eyes and no one dies or goes to jail
Past the silver bridge
Oh the silver bridge wearing nothing but a one-sie and a veil
Ooh
You're deep in a mine, o-o-oh
Ooh
A calcium mine
Oh no no
Arm in arm we are the harmless sociopaths
Oh arm in arm with all the harmless sociopaths
In the calcium mines buried deep in your chest
Oh the calcium mines buried deep in your chest
Ooh
Deep in a mine, oh-no
Ooh
A calcium mine
Oh-no
So let's get out of here
Past the atmosphere
Squint your eyes and no one dies or goes to jail
Past the silver bridge
Oh the silver bridge wearing nothing but a one-sie and a veil
Oh-no
Oh-no
Oh-no
Oh-no
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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
i like this song, and how he describes his intuitive process in the NY Times. Its funny saying, "Harmless Sociopaths."
My thought on Andrew Bird's interpretation of sociopath-hood is like "gain for no remorse for your actions," except without the "gain" part because you are just empty. One should think of it as a metaphor for feeling nothing when you are suppose to at any rate of a situation. I get this image of when someone is gloomy and they are just starting into a wall. Maybe its depression setting in or that feeling of boredom is capitalized in his work. It's like he could be committing any sort of sociopath related action and that blank stare would set in like the loop of a waltz which is his chorus undertaking "arm and arm..."
I feel like the song is trying to say, "if I could feel something, I would," in any form of ambiguity.