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 stumble through the wreckage, rusted from the rain
There's nothing left to salvage, no one left to blame
Among the broken mirrors, I don't look the same
I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
Dissect me 'til my blood runs down into the drain
My bitter heart is pumping oil into my veins
I'm nothing but a tin man, don't feel any pain
I don't feel any pain, I don't feel any pain
I'm rusted from the rain
Go on, crush me like a flower, rusted from the rain
Come on, strip me of my power, beat me with your chains
And if I'm the king of cowards, you're the queen of pain
I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
You hung me like a picture, now I'm just a frame
I used to be a lap dog, now I'm just a stray
Shackled in the graveyard, left here to decay
Left here to decay, left here to decay
I'm rusted from the rain
Go on, crush me like a flower, rusted from the rain
Come on, strip me of my power, beat me with your chains
And if I'm the king of cowards, you're the queen of pain
I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
I'm rusted from the rain
Go
Go on, crush me like a flower, rusted from the rain
Come on, strip me of my power, beat me with your chains
And if I'm the king of cowards, you're the queen of pain
I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
Go on, crush me like a flower, rusted from the rain
Come on, strip me of my power, beat me with your chains
And if I'm the king of cowards, you're the queen of pain
I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
Oh, the sun will shine again
I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
Oh, the sun will shine again
I'm rusted from the rain
There's nothing left to salvage, no one left to blame
Among the broken mirrors, I don't look the same
I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
Dissect me 'til my blood runs down into the drain
My bitter heart is pumping oil into my veins
I'm nothing but a tin man, don't feel any pain
I don't feel any pain, I don't feel any pain
I'm rusted from the rain
Go on, crush me like a flower, rusted from the rain
Come on, strip me of my power, beat me with your chains
And if I'm the king of cowards, you're the queen of pain
I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
You hung me like a picture, now I'm just a frame
I used to be a lap dog, now I'm just a stray
Shackled in the graveyard, left here to decay
Left here to decay, left here to decay
I'm rusted from the rain
Go on, crush me like a flower, rusted from the rain
Come on, strip me of my power, beat me with your chains
And if I'm the king of cowards, you're the queen of pain
I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
I'm rusted from the rain
Go
Go on, crush me like a flower, rusted from the rain
Come on, strip me of my power, beat me with your chains
And if I'm the king of cowards, you're the queen of pain
I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
Go on, crush me like a flower, rusted from the rain
Come on, strip me of my power, beat me with your chains
And if I'm the king of cowards, you're the queen of pain
I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
Oh, the sun will shine again
I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
Oh, the sun will shine again
I'm rusted from the rain
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to me the phrase "rusted from the rain" is saying that i am tired & worn/broken down from the stresses and turmoil going on in my life.
sayin that... to me the song is about someone who has allowed another individual or perhaps just life in general to abuse them and/or take control of their life.
I think it's about how people only see the outside of him...just because he's "rusted" he is different from everyone else.
i think its about not doing anything with your life and after blaming everyone else, realizing it is and always was your own fault.
I think it's about the general wear and tear of life.
This is so promising! I love this, and I'm totally absorbed. The video is fantastic. They evolved into something completely beautiful! This song has SOUL.
I corrected some of the lyrics:
I stumble through the wreckage, rusted from the rain There's nothing left to salvage, no one left to blame Among the broken mirrors, I don't look the same I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
Dissect me until my blood runs down into the drain My bitter heart is pumping oil into my veins I'm nothing but a tin man, don't feel any pain I don't feel any pain, I don't feel any pain
I'm rusted from the rain
Go on crush me like a flower, rusted from the rain Come on, strip me of my power, beat me with your chains And if I'm the king of cowards, you're the queen of pain I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
You hung me like a picture, now I'm just a frame I used to be your lap dog, now I'm just a stray Shackled in a graveyard, left here to decay Left here to decay, left here to decay
I'm rusted from the rain
Go on crush me like a flower, rusted from the rain Come on, strip me of my power, beat me with your chains And if I'm the king of cowards, you're the queen of pain I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
I'm rusted from the rain
Go on crush me like a flower, rusted from the rain Come on, strip me of my power, beat me with your chains And if I'm the king of cowards, you're the queen of pain I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain
Go on crush me like a flower, rusted from the rain Come on, strip me of my power, beat me with your chains And if I'm the king of cowards, you're the queen of pain I'm rusted from the rain, I'm rusted from the rain The sun will shine again, I'm rusted from the rain I'm rusted from the rain, the sun will shine again
I'm rusted from the rain
Here's my interpreation. Sometimes the worse life gets, the harder it also gets to recover (like anything abandoned and aging - it gets rusty). You blame people for not being there, and then when there's noone left to blame, there's nobody left. The people who have associated with the main character here have been selfish/uncaring/intolerant, and unfortunaately it's a shame because it's their loss for not being there and missing out on someone with a lot to offer.
I've had this song on repeat for days. I'm so excited for the new album, this is, as Fallen Leaves said, very promising, and the video is amazing!!! Such a good bass line coming from Jon, and Ian's solo is brilliant. Love it!!
its about inconfidence it seems how something bad happened to them and now they are rusty and havent been doing what thye wanted to in awhile and this makes sense to me also because he calls himself the king of cowards and maybe the queen of pain is a girl he really loved but failed and now is just hopiong for the best even though he is rusty and doesnt really want to move on
This is what I believe that this song is about. Things are rusted from the rain when they are forgotten about or left alone for long periods of time. This is about a relationship where one lover does not care about the other for reasons unknown, be it another person or entertainment or whatever, people do strange things.
Go on crush me like a flower, rusted from the rain
Flowers are insignificant. I would crush one without even thinking about it. Comparing a human to a crushed flower is truly calling someone worthless.
You hung me like a picture, now I'm just a frame I used to be your lap dog, now I'm just a stray Shackled in a graveyard, left here to decay Left here to decay, left here to decay
Obviously the person he speaks about cares very little for him or may even resent him. All this stanza does is emphasize Bens feelings.
Love this song. I believe the song is about a relationship, maybe a marriage, that has died or been shredded. The rain I believe is the tears caused by the author and the rust is how they have affected him over time. The whole dissecting thing is the "better half" ripping apart everything he does making him a hardened soul. "Power" - self esteem. "Chains" - words. Anyway, that's my take.