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 holding tank I built for myself, it's feeding time
And I start to feel afraid 'cause I'm the last one left in line
The endless string of summer storms that led me to today
Began one afternoon with you, long ago and far away
And someone leads the beast in on its chain
But I know you're thinking of me 'cause it's just about to rain
So I won't be afraid of anything ever again
In the cell that holds my body back, the door swings wide
And I feel like someone's lost child as the guards lead me outside
And if the clouds are gathering, it's just to point the way
To an afternoon I spent with you when it rained all day
And someone leads the beast in on its chain
But I know you're thinking of me 'cause it's just about to rain
So I won't be afraid of anything ever again
And I start to feel afraid 'cause I'm the last one left in line
The endless string of summer storms that led me to today
Began one afternoon with you, long ago and far away
And someone leads the beast in on its chain
But I know you're thinking of me 'cause it's just about to rain
So I won't be afraid of anything ever again
In the cell that holds my body back, the door swings wide
And I feel like someone's lost child as the guards lead me outside
And if the clouds are gathering, it's just to point the way
To an afternoon I spent with you when it rained all day
And someone leads the beast in on its chain
But I know you're thinking of me 'cause it's just about to rain
So I won't be afraid of anything ever again
Lyrics submitted by Zopilote Steel, edited by iagoed
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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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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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I think this song revolves around a prisoner narrator that's being executed on death row, praying to God.
The song begins with his last meal in the cell which he has built for himself metaphorically, in the sense that he's conscious that the decisions he took in his life are what lead him here.
He's being lead to do his death by guards, he is the beast that's being lead on the chain and trying to stay brave in the face of death and believe in the God has for him even as a sinner.
It's a beautiful song.
believe in the love* God has for him even as a sinner.
This song is about 3 minutes long.
A couple of suggested edits, since the first half of the lyrics here has a number of discrepancies with the album version.
"In the holding tank I built for myself it's feeding time And I start to feel afraid 'cause I'm the last one left in line The endless string of summer storms that led me to today Began one afternoon with you long ago and far away"
And, later on:
"in the cell that holds my body back the door swings wide and i feel like someone's lost child as the guards lead me outside and if the clouds are gathering it's just to point the way to an afternoon I spent with you when it rained all day"
In Christian mythology, "The Beast" usually refers to Satan. Back to what lilotelasserie said, I think it's about Christian's struggle to follow God under all of Satan's pressures. Satan is usually depicted as being surrounded by fire. God is thinking about the Christian, so he's sending rain to douse the fire.
That's what I got from the song. Of course, that's the story. You also have the lesson that, no matter what horrible situation you find yourself in, there's someone who cares about you, so there's no reason to be afraid of living your life.
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.<br /> <br /> The song is about the belief in the love that God has for us, and with the belief you can withstand anything with love/god in yourself. No matter the incoming problems you are not going to be afraid.<br /> <br /> It's about faith
I don't know if anyone has already written a comment saying so, but I think another interpretation could be that the narrator of the song is turning crazy, or out of control, so he has built himself a cage where he locks himself away so as not to harm the "you" he goes on about.
"And I feel like someone's lost child as the guards lead me outside" this is like the vulnerability he could be feeling as the demons sort of take over his body and his real state of mind is overshadowed by the crazy part.
And all he has is this one memory left and he's holding onto it so hard.
Well that's all I got!
WHAT IS THIS SONG ABOUT!!!?!>?
please? someone tell me.
This conjures up images of Christians being fed to the lions. I think it's a continuation of the Satanic Messiah idea, where it's the end of the world, the anti-christ has arrived, but all he can think of is that one girl and the times he wasted with her.
i dont know much about the song<br /> i personally havnt listened to it<br /> 1 John 4:16 is below<br /> <br /> And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.<br /> God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.<br /> <br /> many of the lines are about not having to worry again<br /> and this verse tells why even though John obviously dosnt believe it himself<br /> i still have no idea what the "beast on the chain" is<br /> sorry, im new at this
I like the Christians being fed to the lions idea, but who said it was a girl? Could it not be God that he spent time with in the rain? This goes along with the "rely on the love God has for us" line in 1 John 4:16
"We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."
The lines "...it's feeding time/And I start to feel afraid 'cause I'm the next one that's in line" and "someone leads the beast in on its chain" make me think this is, in part, about a gladiator, or similar situation. Christians were often part of the "entertainment" of the Coliseum, facing off against lions and other "beasts".
I'm going to have to agree with ianr07.
hm. "In the holding tank I built for myself ..."
if the narrator is a prisoner, it's a self-imposed sentence.
like half his songs, i have to think this is about addiction. the narrator is in rehab, last in line for his pills. the "you" seems to be an actual person, not god/love.