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.
Now I lay me down to pass out wasted again.
I guess that makes this the seventh time this week.
There's some words in my head that could keep me from dying.
Are you handling this any better than I am?
If I keep it together would you promise to keep us together?
Oh, sometimes we lose each other,
But please don't lose your tongue.
When I get home I'll keep you up for hours
I'm gonna need breath in those lungs.
And when you're finally able to fall asleep,
Though, the sun might disagree,
I'm gonna lay right there and watch you breathe
'Til you wake up to me.
How's it happen that I get to have you for so long?
But then your just ripped away from me as I get tossed out to the sea
To fight the sharks out there and wait for a wind swell
Oh, I'm kind of like a sailor back in 1942
Yeah, I wanna fight the good fight, but goddamn I'm gonna miss you.
Oh, sometimes we lose each other,
But please don't lose your tongue.
When I get home I'll keep you up for hours
I'm gonna need breath in those lungs.
And when you're finally able to fall asleep
Though, the sun might disagree
I'm gonna lay right there and watch you breathe
'Til you wake up to me.
Please don't lose your tongue.
Please don't lose those lungs.
Oh, sometimes we lose each other,
But please don't lose your tongue.
When I get home I'll keep you up for hours
I'm gonna need breath in those lungs.
And when you're finally able to fall asleep,
Though, the sun might disagree,
I am gonna lay right there and watch you breathe
'Til you wake up to me.
I guess that makes this the seventh time this week.
There's some words in my head that could keep me from dying.
Are you handling this any better than I am?
If I keep it together would you promise to keep us together?
Oh, sometimes we lose each other,
But please don't lose your tongue.
When I get home I'll keep you up for hours
I'm gonna need breath in those lungs.
And when you're finally able to fall asleep,
Though, the sun might disagree,
I'm gonna lay right there and watch you breathe
'Til you wake up to me.
How's it happen that I get to have you for so long?
But then your just ripped away from me as I get tossed out to the sea
To fight the sharks out there and wait for a wind swell
Oh, I'm kind of like a sailor back in 1942
Yeah, I wanna fight the good fight, but goddamn I'm gonna miss you.
Oh, sometimes we lose each other,
But please don't lose your tongue.
When I get home I'll keep you up for hours
I'm gonna need breath in those lungs.
And when you're finally able to fall asleep
Though, the sun might disagree
I'm gonna lay right there and watch you breathe
'Til you wake up to me.
Please don't lose your tongue.
Please don't lose those lungs.
Oh, sometimes we lose each other,
But please don't lose your tongue.
When I get home I'll keep you up for hours
I'm gonna need breath in those lungs.
And when you're finally able to fall asleep,
Though, the sun might disagree,
I am gonna lay right there and watch you breathe
'Til you wake up to me.
Lyrics submitted by mcstevepants
Those Lungs Lyrics as written by Derek Grant Daniel Andriano
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Hey guys,
I think this song means something completely different. I think it's the disconnect between your autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the other part of your brain that is reserved for thinking and dreaming, when you're wasted out of your gourd . Check it out:
Now I lay me down to pass out wasted again Guess that makes this the seventh time this week And theres some words in my head that could keep me from dying Are you handling this any better than I am If I keep it together will you promise to keep us together --I believe that this part is about the disconnect. This is all from the brains perspective. If I can keep my thoughts in order... ANS, can you keep running everything you need to, so that we can keep living?
Oh sometimes we lose each other But please don't lose your tongue -- disconnect When I get home Ill keep you up for hours I'm gonna need breath in those lungs --When we get home from drinking or wake up from passing out, I'm gonna need breath to stay alive. Keep you up for hours is the puking and general hang over. And when you're finally able to fall asleep though the sun might disagree (I like this line because the sun says you should rise and shine, but you don't want to) I'm gonna lay right there and watch you breathe til you wake up to me --When we can finally stop heaving and feeling crappy, The body will sleep and the ANS will rest, but the brain will wait for it to wake up to play again. Hows it happened that I get to have you for so long And then you're just ripped away from me as I get tossed out to the sea --sea = the drink to fight the sharks I'll be waiting for a (wind swell?) Oh I'm kind of like a sailor back in 1942 Yeah I wanna fight the good fight, but goddamn I'm gonna miss you --The good fight might be drinking to forget.