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.
The day is almost over, the sunlight is going
And the people walk in shadows, completely unknowing
That there’s something lethal in the air that they can’t see
Now a Time Lord could save me just by turning on a light
But I don’t think that the Doctor’s gonna show up tonight
And so I’m trying to remember what the Library said to me
Gotta focus on all the silhouettes that you can see
Cuz if the number keeps on changing then you’re no use to me
So count the shadows, count the shadows
Cuz they’re edging towards you like a hungry moth to a flame
So count the shadows, count the shadows
Cuz if you’ve got more than one, then you’re the victim that they will claim
In the Library the darkness is waiting to attack
And some explorers went inside but they ain’t never coming back
Namely Miss Evangelista, Anita and two guys called Dave
And the Shadows made four thousand other people disappear
And they’ve been hungry and waiting for a whole damn year
For some fresh meat that isn’t gonna register as “Saved”
An invisible carnivorous aggressive Armada
And they go by the name of the Vashta Nerada
A thousand thousand million piranhas in the air
The tingle on your skin that you feel in the dark
May be the hungry ones who contemplate leaving a mark
So when you’re reaching for the light switch, make sure you’re prepared
And the people walk in shadows, completely unknowing
That there’s something lethal in the air that they can’t see
Now a Time Lord could save me just by turning on a light
But I don’t think that the Doctor’s gonna show up tonight
And so I’m trying to remember what the Library said to me
Gotta focus on all the silhouettes that you can see
Cuz if the number keeps on changing then you’re no use to me
So count the shadows, count the shadows
Cuz they’re edging towards you like a hungry moth to a flame
So count the shadows, count the shadows
Cuz if you’ve got more than one, then you’re the victim that they will claim
In the Library the darkness is waiting to attack
And some explorers went inside but they ain’t never coming back
Namely Miss Evangelista, Anita and two guys called Dave
And the Shadows made four thousand other people disappear
And they’ve been hungry and waiting for a whole damn year
For some fresh meat that isn’t gonna register as “Saved”
An invisible carnivorous aggressive Armada
And they go by the name of the Vashta Nerada
A thousand thousand million piranhas in the air
The tingle on your skin that you feel in the dark
May be the hungry ones who contemplate leaving a mark
So when you’re reaching for the light switch, make sure you’re prepared
Lyrics submitted by Xayide
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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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Great version of a great song,
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This is about the "Vashta Nerada" because a tell tale sign of being the one they're about to claim is having multiple shadows. I.E "If you've got more than one you're no use to me" The fresh meat won't register as saved means that they're in the library and because the Vashta Nerada have overcome the library and the libraries computer saved them all, but the capacity is full so it can't save them into its harddrive.
Are you kidding? Of course it's about Vashta Nerada! If anyone didn't understand that they can't have been paying attention concidering there is a line going "And they go by the name of the Vashta Nerada"