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.
All these words you wrote never made any sense to me
I keep trying I keep searching but the meaning of this eludes me
These trees that you hide behind they play games with my mind
They stretch on as far as the eye can see
One false move, one bad step
Don't want to feel those dirty dirty hands around my neck
We all hold our heads down these days seem so tough
Cos if you can't hear the sirens, you're not listening hard enough
So I catch myself and these lips won't move
I keep searching I keep screaming but the science of this eludes me
These trees that you run between represent something else to me
A loss of hope a loss of time while I'm on my knees
We all hold our heads down these days seem so tough
Cos if you can't hear the sirens, you're not listening hard enough
And as I stand to stare, no sense left at all
I'll be crying I'll be screaming will you catch me catch me catch me when I fall?
I will search through the undergrowth for the things that you took from me
I don't really need them back but something in me demands that they be free
You can run faster than I can maybe you can melt into thin air
You can hit faster than I can scream but the meaning of this deserts me
Don't you pull don't you pull don't you pull don't you pull that gun on me
All I ever wanted was to turn the clock back can't you see that
All these headlines they make you into something you should've never been
Camera click.. camera click.. camera click
Wait don't fire
I keep trying I keep searching but the meaning of this eludes me
These trees that you hide behind they play games with my mind
They stretch on as far as the eye can see
One false move, one bad step
Don't want to feel those dirty dirty hands around my neck
We all hold our heads down these days seem so tough
Cos if you can't hear the sirens, you're not listening hard enough
So I catch myself and these lips won't move
I keep searching I keep screaming but the science of this eludes me
These trees that you run between represent something else to me
A loss of hope a loss of time while I'm on my knees
We all hold our heads down these days seem so tough
Cos if you can't hear the sirens, you're not listening hard enough
And as I stand to stare, no sense left at all
I'll be crying I'll be screaming will you catch me catch me catch me when I fall?
I will search through the undergrowth for the things that you took from me
I don't really need them back but something in me demands that they be free
You can run faster than I can maybe you can melt into thin air
You can hit faster than I can scream but the meaning of this deserts me
Don't you pull don't you pull don't you pull don't you pull that gun on me
All I ever wanted was to turn the clock back can't you see that
All these headlines they make you into something you should've never been
Camera click.. camera click.. camera click
Wait don't fire
Lyrics submitted by hospitaldrama
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.