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'm waiting for another day
I'm waiting for the clock to reach the six and twelve
I'm waiting for a holiday
I'm waiting for myself
I'm waiting for another day
I'm waiting for the clock to reach the six and twelve
I'm waiting for a holiday
I'm waiting for myself
And all I seem to hear is: Stop, Stop
I'm catching up on you
Don't leave me behind
I can't see a soul out here
It's Dark, Dark
I'm catching up on you
And all I wonder is: Why?
Why do i try to start running
What am I running for?
Do you remember why we started running?
Do you remember why we're running at all?
If i dared I'd choose to swim
But it's safer on the shore
Do you remember why we started running?
Do you remember why we're running at all?
I would die to get away
But I fear to even more
I'm waiting for another day
The last one was so desperately disappointing
I can't seem to focus on what I've done
Or where I've been
I can't see
Nobody here
And all I seem to hear is: Stop, Stop
I'm catching up on you
Don't leave me behind
I can't see a soul out here
It's Dark, Dark
I'm catching up on you
And all I wonder is: Why?
Why do i try to start running
What am I running for?
Do you remember why we started running?
Do you remember why we're running at all?
If i dared I'd choose to swim
But it's safer on the shore
Do you remember why we started running?
Do you remember why we're running at all?
I would die to get away
But I fear to even more
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
Then close my eyes
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
Then close my eyes and start swimming
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
Then close my eyes and start swimming
Close my eyes and start swimming
Close my eyes and start swimming
I'm waiting for the clock to reach the six and twelve
I'm waiting for a holiday
I'm waiting for myself
I'm waiting for another day
I'm waiting for the clock to reach the six and twelve
I'm waiting for a holiday
I'm waiting for myself
And all I seem to hear is: Stop, Stop
I'm catching up on you
Don't leave me behind
I can't see a soul out here
It's Dark, Dark
I'm catching up on you
And all I wonder is: Why?
Why do i try to start running
What am I running for?
Do you remember why we started running?
Do you remember why we're running at all?
If i dared I'd choose to swim
But it's safer on the shore
Do you remember why we started running?
Do you remember why we're running at all?
I would die to get away
But I fear to even more
I'm waiting for another day
The last one was so desperately disappointing
I can't seem to focus on what I've done
Or where I've been
I can't see
Nobody here
And all I seem to hear is: Stop, Stop
I'm catching up on you
Don't leave me behind
I can't see a soul out here
It's Dark, Dark
I'm catching up on you
And all I wonder is: Why?
Why do i try to start running
What am I running for?
Do you remember why we started running?
Do you remember why we're running at all?
If i dared I'd choose to swim
But it's safer on the shore
Do you remember why we started running?
Do you remember why we're running at all?
I would die to get away
But I fear to even more
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
Then close my eyes
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
Then close my eyes and start swimming
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
I would rather stay here the rest of my life
Then close my eyes and start swimming
Close my eyes and start swimming
Close my eyes and start swimming
Lyrics submitted by HystericRomance, edited by UglyDoll, Chikicha
Start Swimming Lyrics as written by Rob Van Der Loo Johanna Charlotte Wessels
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think that this song deals with the fear of trying something new, something different.
At first she describes wanting and waiting to feel ready. And once she's decided what to do ("running") she realizes that she wants to try something more risky that will lead her in a different direction. But in the end her fear gets the better of her: "I would rather stay here the rest of my life/Than close my eyes/Close my eyes and start swimming"
This song always makes me think of those people who have stable jobs, but also have dreams of being rockstars. They could 'start swimming' and try to make it in the cut-throat music business, or keep their stable job and 'stay there the rest of their lives'.
I thought the same thing about this song !