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.
Living in a world of regrets.
You never wanted this and you never will
Living in a world of regrets.
You never wanted this and you never will
Watching your mirror image, drowning in a lake of your own sorrows, your own sorrows.
But we will pray, that you will pray, you will look toward the skies.
Look toward the skies, which covers you, like blankets, and see his open arms.
Look toward the skies.
Look toward the skies.
You claim, you claim you were built to fall.
You were never strong enough.
You claim, you claim you were built to fall.
You were never strong enough.
Heroin has no healing to this unfortunate tragedy.
Don't stray from what you've become now, to who you were then.
With a needle in your arm.
Now affection has abandoned you, can you still feel.
Now affection has abandoned you, can you still feel.
Hold on!
Hold on, don't you die.
Hold on, don't you die on me.
Living in a world of regrets you never wanted this and you never will.
You claim you were built to fall, you were never strong enough.
You claim you were built to fall, you were never strong enough.
Save yourself.
You claim, you claim you were built to fall
you were never strong enough.
You claim, you claim you were built to fall
you were never strong enough.
You never wanted this and you never will
Living in a world of regrets.
You never wanted this and you never will
Watching your mirror image, drowning in a lake of your own sorrows, your own sorrows.
But we will pray, that you will pray, you will look toward the skies.
Look toward the skies, which covers you, like blankets, and see his open arms.
Look toward the skies.
Look toward the skies.
You claim, you claim you were built to fall.
You were never strong enough.
You claim, you claim you were built to fall.
You were never strong enough.
Heroin has no healing to this unfortunate tragedy.
Don't stray from what you've become now, to who you were then.
With a needle in your arm.
Now affection has abandoned you, can you still feel.
Now affection has abandoned you, can you still feel.
Hold on!
Hold on, don't you die.
Hold on, don't you die on me.
Living in a world of regrets you never wanted this and you never will.
You claim you were built to fall, you were never strong enough.
You claim you were built to fall, you were never strong enough.
Save yourself.
You claim, you claim you were built to fall
you were never strong enough.
You claim, you claim you were built to fall
you were never strong enough.
Lyrics submitted by TomEye2113, edited by bobbyloujo
Chasing the Dragon Lyrics as written by Michael Gershima Kelly Nickels
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.”
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sorry its a little sloppy, its my first posted lyrics..
personally, i love this song and it relates to me in quite a few ways.. i was shocked at first when i didn't hear a breakdown.. but then i realized lol that it didn't matter, and it was amazing all the same. enjoi!
Really rad song. Isn't smoking the dragon a term for pot?
I love this song and I love the fact that it doesn't have a breakdown. They are so much better than that. This song is probably about a heroin addiction. And I'm almost positive that the title is a reference to a south park episode where everyone is addicted to Guitar Hero. They release a game called Heroin Hero where all you do is chase a dragon while you inject yourself with heroin.
Actually "chasing the dragon" is an expression for smoking opium (a substance that comes from the poppy plant and is what heroin is made of), so there is definitely a connection between the song title and the subject of heroin use.
yea dragon is spelled wrong haha, kinda big mistake but it's all good... i think ya may be right to an extent with the addiction thing, but i'd say it's a bit more deep an vast rather then just singling out south park and heroine
Jake Luhrs said in an interview (you can see it on youtube) that in his teens he was addicted to heroine and was suicidal. This song is from his story.
Wow, the guitars on this song are really...meloncolly; this song gives me goosebumps. But I guess that goes to show that it's such a deep song. The chorus definatly addresses depression and how he must have lost all faith in himself. But "look to the skies...see his open arms." And how "heroin has no healing to this unfortunate tragedy": heroin is not the answer, but God is. I bet this song brings a tear to his eye every time sings it.
This song is about a man/woman that has become depressed and looks towards drugs as an escape.