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.
I dreamt you seduced me just to walk away
I dreamt you inspired then rewired what I say
I dreamt you spread your bottom wings and pulled me to the bed
But the I woke up feel nauseous
You danced around my head
Tell me
How long, how long have I been down
How long, how long have I been down
How long, how long have I been down
Down
Down
I dreamt you burned my fingers
Yes an automatic sting
I dreamt you called me beautiful then asked to hear me sing
I dreamt your scent invited me to crawl within your space
But then I woke up feeling nauseous
Girl, you danced around my face
Tell me
How long, how long have I been down
How long, how long have I been down
How long, how long have I been down
Down
Down
Why can't we work, when we both try
We try, we try, we try, we try
Why can't this work, when we've both tried
Why can't it work, when we both try
We try, we try, we try
God how we've tried
And how we tried
I mean to sympathize
I mean to be a friend
I know apologizing won't erase the end
But I've learned that moving on is where I must begin
Cause when our colors mixed
We couldn't fix the way the wouldn't blend
So tell me
How long, how long have I been down
How long, how long have I been down
How long, how long have I been down
Down
Down
And I wish that only greatness follow you around
I hope to god you find a way to keep from down
And when you do I hope you share it all with me
Please try to understand
Yeah to understand, me
Just try to understand me
Yeah understand me
How long, how long have we been down
Down
Down
I dreamt you inspired then rewired what I say
I dreamt you spread your bottom wings and pulled me to the bed
But the I woke up feel nauseous
You danced around my head
Tell me
How long, how long have I been down
How long, how long have I been down
How long, how long have I been down
Down
Down
I dreamt you burned my fingers
Yes an automatic sting
I dreamt you called me beautiful then asked to hear me sing
I dreamt your scent invited me to crawl within your space
But then I woke up feeling nauseous
Girl, you danced around my face
Tell me
How long, how long have I been down
How long, how long have I been down
How long, how long have I been down
Down
Down
Why can't we work, when we both try
We try, we try, we try, we try
Why can't this work, when we've both tried
Why can't it work, when we both try
We try, we try, we try
God how we've tried
And how we tried
I mean to sympathize
I mean to be a friend
I know apologizing won't erase the end
But I've learned that moving on is where I must begin
Cause when our colors mixed
We couldn't fix the way the wouldn't blend
So tell me
How long, how long have I been down
How long, how long have I been down
How long, how long have I been down
Down
Down
And I wish that only greatness follow you around
I hope to god you find a way to keep from down
And when you do I hope you share it all with me
Please try to understand
Yeah to understand, me
Just try to understand me
Yeah understand me
How long, how long have we been down
Down
Down
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Light Up The Sky
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
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The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Dreamwalker
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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.
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Punchline
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I am going thru this now with a special woman who is not my wife. Our struggle is not unusual. She is perhaps a soul mate, but I am not sure if I am in love or in love with the concept of being in love. I fear this is going to end badly for everyone....but its like a train wreck you can't turn away from watching.