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.
your waving silhouette, by new means
the fish swimming in the river queue at the hook, don't they?
looking up at the heavens, a child sacrifice
weakness unknown
tick-tock, tick-tock, time flows
love and desire lay inverted in the palm of this hand
tick-tock, tick-tock, when i remember
imperfect atmosphere
please answer, this body, tracks left by filthy tears
frightened by the uncertain present that extends
through the course of my life
the tragedy reflected in this photograph
did not convey such a thing
not strong, not strong
waiting for the rain to cleanse us
the spectacle we are viewing, that sad scene
becomes polluted by a sorrowful rain
i want to break from it as it is, this burnt historic love
i hope for some kind of reality to wake me
from this prolonged dream
"please go back" to the middle of exhaustion;
kindness was always beside you
it's not frightening, it's not frightening
black rain falls to wash us
tick-tock, tick-tock, time flows
serenity and virtue lay inverted in the palm of this hand
tick-tock, tick-tock, when i remember
i can see you, on the far side of this sky
tick-tock, tick-tock, time flows
love and desire placed in the palm of this hand
tick-tock, tick-tock, remembering
i miss the smile from that day
please convey this love to that vanished person
if it were a lasting lie, how long before my redemption?
this love equally ceased, that it
would be swallowed by a wave
must reach, must reach
we exist in this "now", then die
the fish swimming in the river queue at the hook, don't they?
looking up at the heavens, a child sacrifice
weakness unknown
tick-tock, tick-tock, time flows
love and desire lay inverted in the palm of this hand
tick-tock, tick-tock, when i remember
imperfect atmosphere
please answer, this body, tracks left by filthy tears
frightened by the uncertain present that extends
through the course of my life
the tragedy reflected in this photograph
did not convey such a thing
not strong, not strong
waiting for the rain to cleanse us
the spectacle we are viewing, that sad scene
becomes polluted by a sorrowful rain
i want to break from it as it is, this burnt historic love
i hope for some kind of reality to wake me
from this prolonged dream
"please go back" to the middle of exhaustion;
kindness was always beside you
it's not frightening, it's not frightening
black rain falls to wash us
tick-tock, tick-tock, time flows
serenity and virtue lay inverted in the palm of this hand
tick-tock, tick-tock, when i remember
i can see you, on the far side of this sky
tick-tock, tick-tock, time flows
love and desire placed in the palm of this hand
tick-tock, tick-tock, remembering
i miss the smile from that day
please convey this love to that vanished person
if it were a lasting lie, how long before my redemption?
this love equally ceased, that it
would be swallowed by a wave
must reach, must reach
we exist in this "now", then die
Lyrics submitted by Deadborn
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