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.
He walked 300 miles
Just to bring, to bring me bread
His body like a sculpture
Almost decorated
And I'll wake him
As the dawn does
And we'll break in
On the bus
Saying this was
Made for us and love
In lovers' communion
For 500 miles
And in 500 miles
Will he break, bring me again
In lovers' communion
For 500 miles
And in 500 miles
Will we break, even break
Step it up
Grab your phone
Get your suitcase
There's no time to waste
A big adventure awaits
Sad news, France
Suffered a late snow
The blooms break through the ice
In San Francisco
A guitar man finally confessed
He loved that actress
Hearts touched by frost, we fought
In the land of the midnight sun
I lost myself
I lost myself
I walk 300 miles
Just to bring, to bring him bread
In love some gifts are simple
Of those I am derated
So I wake him as the dawn does
And we'll face what any lovers must
Blueness pales within a flame's lust
In lovers' communion
For 500 miles
And in 500 miles
Will he break, bring me again
In lovers' communion
For 500 miles
And in 500 miles
Will he break
Even break
Will we break, even break
Break, even break
Does love
Don't we
Make life even
Break
Just to bring, to bring me bread
His body like a sculpture
Almost decorated
And I'll wake him
As the dawn does
And we'll break in
On the bus
Saying this was
Made for us and love
In lovers' communion
For 500 miles
And in 500 miles
Will he break, bring me again
In lovers' communion
For 500 miles
And in 500 miles
Will we break, even break
Step it up
Grab your phone
Get your suitcase
There's no time to waste
A big adventure awaits
Sad news, France
Suffered a late snow
The blooms break through the ice
In San Francisco
A guitar man finally confessed
He loved that actress
Hearts touched by frost, we fought
In the land of the midnight sun
I lost myself
I lost myself
I walk 300 miles
Just to bring, to bring him bread
In love some gifts are simple
Of those I am derated
So I wake him as the dawn does
And we'll face what any lovers must
Blueness pales within a flame's lust
In lovers' communion
For 500 miles
And in 500 miles
Will he break, bring me again
In lovers' communion
For 500 miles
And in 500 miles
Will he break
Even break
Will we break, even break
Break, even break
Does love
Don't we
Make life even
Break
Lyrics submitted by stentorian
500 Miles Lyrics as written by Tori Ellen Amos
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think that much like "Not Dying Today" is about Tori's bond with her bandmates while touring the world, "500 Miles" is about she and her husband during that same time. That as much as she's with "the boys" on the tour, her husband is there, and she loves him, and they share that time together as husband and wife just the same. His walking 300 miles to bring her bread is a gesture of affection, possibly one she dismisses slightly at first, but finds he "breaks" her of her dismissive attitude.
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So to make up for it when she realizes it, she walked 300 miles to bring HIM bread this time. "In love, some gifts are simple, others I underrated." She didn't hold so much stock in his offering until she herself realized the simple gesture means a lot. So they'll wake the next day, and they'll deal with their rough patch like "any lovers must."
"Blueness pales within a flames lust" A small flame will have a bit of blue in the center, but as it grows, the blueness pales. The fire comes back, they make up. She worries they might break, or even brake, but just the same they ride on, in lovers communion.
The brake/break wordplay is interesting. I think it relates to several elements of the song -- the breaking of bread, of course -- their lover's communion. But also the idea that he could break her again, that their love could break again, or even brake -- stop completely.