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.
When the lights go down in the city, getting real low
Settling in my room, I'm unnoticed
When the still comes in through my window, letting me go
I feel a calm, come over me, on the floor
On the floor
Where the rats all come away clean
There on the floor
Where the children all stomped and screamed straight out the door
Well I find myself on my knees
Begging please
When the lights go down in the city
And everyone goes, to their room
Walking the trail to dreamland
When the lights go down in the city, something is roaring
I find myself waiting to believe
On the floor
Where the mice call shots in the corner that's where I'll be
When the crickets come home and sing their symphony
Well I find myself on my knees
Begging please
On the floor
Facing the things I've done here on the floor
Where the years have gathered and run that's where I'll be
And I find myself on my knees
Begging please
Settling in my room, I'm unnoticed
When the still comes in through my window, letting me go
I feel a calm, come over me, on the floor
On the floor
Where the rats all come away clean
There on the floor
Where the children all stomped and screamed straight out the door
Well I find myself on my knees
Begging please
When the lights go down in the city
And everyone goes, to their room
Walking the trail to dreamland
When the lights go down in the city, something is roaring
I find myself waiting to believe
On the floor
Where the mice call shots in the corner that's where I'll be
When the crickets come home and sing their symphony
Well I find myself on my knees
Begging please
On the floor
Facing the things I've done here on the floor
Where the years have gathered and run that's where I'll be
And I find myself on my knees
Begging please
Lyrics submitted by hogwash13777, edited by tomwest96
On the Floor Lyrics as written by Brandon Flowers
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Religious or not it's a really great song.
First off, I love the build up of this song. It starts off light in the intro, and subtly, in that Brandon Flowers way of things, ends up feeling very, very heavy towards the middle...with touches of whimsicality in between to remind us this is a song about redemption. Then the chorus and hugeness at the end...well, I daresay that speaks for itself.
I think this is about a guy who had previously been very proud, but now he's brought to the floor, begging for forgiveness or fulfillment from God.
I got the pride part out of the way he emphasized “I go unnoticed” as if he’s not used to going unnoticed or being by himself. He’s always the center of attention or has lots of people around that love him. Being unnoticed in itself is almost a humbling experience for him.
“Letting me go.” Thinking outside himself. Realizing he’s been self centered. Realizing there’s more out there and he’s ready to let his focus shift to other things.
“I feel a calm, come over me, on the floor.”
Even though this is different and maybe unnerving this change, he knows it’s a good thing and he’s not worried about it. He’s on the floor…this isn’t normal. But it needs to happen.
“On the floor where the rats all come away clean.”
Double meaning, here, obviously. 1st: Literal–He’s lying on the floor with rats…you can’t get much lower than that, but he’s bonding with a Saviour that he feels unworthy next to. 2nd: Metaphorical–He is the rat…a selfish little high-minded creature that is just now realizing how ugly he is…but he’s going to come away clean with humility and grace whilst meeting with God.
“They’re on the floor Where the children all stamped and screamed Straight out the door.”
Metaphor shifts from rats to bratty children. They don’t know a whole lot, but they are stubborn and they’ll do all they can to get away from their parents rules…much like Brandon/narrator had done with God. Or, alternately, this could be some allusion to childlike innocence and ignorance.
“Well I find myself on the floor Begging please.”
On the floor, with the rats, begging please. Strong words. Once again, an emphasis on the revelation of humility the man is having.
“When the lights go down in the city Something is roaring I find myself Waiting to believe.”
This could be him witnessing the roar of traffic, an accident, something bad, etc. that leaves him wanting something more than the city. One of those ‘at the end of the day all you want is…’ statements. WAITING to believe is strange, though. This could imply he never meant to ‘get religion’–unless it was when he was older.
The following turn of events kill the waiting, though because Brandon belts out another impassioned round of ‘on the floor’
Except this time it’s accompanied by slightly nicer imagery ‘where the mice call shots’ and ‘where the crickets sing their symphony’. This could be nothing, or it could add to the goodness of the inspiration/relief the man is feeling.
“On the floor Facing the things I’ve done Here on the floor Where the years have gathered and run That’s where I’ll be And I find myself on my knees Begging please”
Apparently this guy has a lot to get off his chest and it feels really good to give it up to the one who can exchange pride for humility and condemnation for grace. “Begging please” could be for forgiveness, acceptance, grace, another chance…etc.
And that’s my sum up. I’m not exactly Mormon, but I do have a relationship with God and it’s really cool to me that Brandon had the inspiration for this song.
Any thoughts?
This is incredible, I love your interpretation of this song, I felt tearful!
I agree with the comments above, definitely a religious song. A sense of humility, a recognition that we are small compared to the saviour. The more I listen to this song, the more I love it!
To be honest, I think it is probably a religious song judging by Brandon's religious theme that runs throughout this whole album, and by the choir that comes in the song, sounding like a church choir, but I think this is one that can be read quite secularly and that anyone can relate to it. There are no explicit references to God or praying or religious allusions--everyone has moments of reflection and remorse in their lives, everyone finds themselves begging on their knees at some point in their lives, so it can be almost about any crisis in your life really. Possibly my fave on the album, because it's more open-ended lyrically than the others, and because of the obvious U2 influence on it.
There's a humbling feeling to this song. I'm not gonna lie, it creeps me when people are too fanatic and have pics of their "idol" all over the place. I'd hate being a celebrity, I'd really scare me!
I think he is saying that when others go out to the night life, he is on his knees praying and asking for forgiveness, humbling himself before God. It's a daily ritual, and it will stay with him for years to come.
It's obviously a song about him being drunk off his a$$ and being down on the floor.
We all know Brandon likes to drink. ;)
BF doesn't drink, he's very religious.<br /> I read this is the most spiritual song in the album, as Flowers wanted to write more spiritual lyrics. On the floor is about humility... I don't remember fully what I read, but it was something like this. <br /> It'd have been funny though if it was about being drunk. It's nice though that BF brings something different.
Haha, good one, Obviouslyman. :)
Obviously a religious song. Not too keen on it.
Well, considering the fact that Brandon is openly Mormon, I don't understand how you could expect his music not to have religious themes. I would go so far as to say that at least half of the songs he's written have have at least a little bit of an undertone to them. <br /> <br /> That said, I'm not sure how you could be a fan of The Killers if you don't like a song because it deals with religion. It's kind of childish to dislike a very good song for that. Spirituality is something we struggle with as humans, and Brandon does so in song (quite beautifully, I might add). To discount that entire aspect of life and existence is to say that so much music, art, and literature should be discounted for its religious themes. <br /> <br /> I'm not sure why your comment got to me so much, but I can't help but reply.