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.
The eyes around me are so cold
With every chance they steal my soul
So walk with me, talk with me,
Hold my hand I'm stumbling
In consequence it buries me alive
Can you fix what's made to be broken
I can't fix what's made to be
My heart is tattooed on my sleeve
I'm not hiding
No
It only hurts to breathe
My heart is tattooed on my sleeve
I know it's blinding
No
It only hurts to breathe
Standing now and alone
I need answers tell me everything you know
So heavy is the night
Exhausted
Whispers tend to crucify my mind
I'm fighting but I'm blind
Can you fix what's made to be broken
I can't fix what's made to be
My heart is tattooed on my sleeve
I'm not hiding
No
It only hurts to breathe
My heart is tattooed on my sleeve
I know it's blinding
No
It only hurts,
It only hurts,
It only hurts to breathe
I shout out
Can you hear me?
Mistakes have cost me years
Do they cost you?
Are you like me?
Tell me, please
My heart is tattooed on my sleeve
I'm not hiding
No
It only hurts to breathe
My heart is tattooed on my sleeve
I know it's blinding
No
It only hurts,
It only hurts,
It only hurts to breathe
With every chance they steal my soul
So walk with me, talk with me,
Hold my hand I'm stumbling
In consequence it buries me alive
Can you fix what's made to be broken
I can't fix what's made to be
My heart is tattooed on my sleeve
I'm not hiding
No
It only hurts to breathe
My heart is tattooed on my sleeve
I know it's blinding
No
It only hurts to breathe
Standing now and alone
I need answers tell me everything you know
So heavy is the night
Exhausted
Whispers tend to crucify my mind
I'm fighting but I'm blind
Can you fix what's made to be broken
I can't fix what's made to be
My heart is tattooed on my sleeve
I'm not hiding
No
It only hurts to breathe
My heart is tattooed on my sleeve
I know it's blinding
No
It only hurts,
It only hurts,
It only hurts to breathe
I shout out
Can you hear me?
Mistakes have cost me years
Do they cost you?
Are you like me?
Tell me, please
My heart is tattooed on my sleeve
I'm not hiding
No
It only hurts to breathe
My heart is tattooed on my sleeve
I know it's blinding
No
It only hurts,
It only hurts,
It only hurts to breathe
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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"here is me alive" should be "that buries me alive"
and I think "Standing now and alone" should be "Standing now I'm alone"
the first one I took right from the album's lyric sheet...the second one, I think even they messed up
No comments yet.... This is my favorite song on the album....Creed Rocks!
I think this song is about "wearing your heart on your sleeve", but constantly being hurt, rejected and put down.
"Wearing your heart on your sleeve" "My heart is tattooed on my sleeve"
Awsome song tho, my favourite from the CD
Stapp's talking about Christ. "Walk with me, talk with me. Hold my hand, I'm stumbling." He's talking about how he's struggling in life and he needs help. So he turns to God and Christ and asks them to remove the pain of his mistakes. It's about wearing your emotions and your mistakes (the analogy of the heart tatttooed on his sleeve) and asking God to remove them, so that he can finally be free of his sins, like all of mankind suffer from their own sins. It's all about turning to God when we need help, and he will remove the pain, like he did in Gethsemane.