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.
There are so many things that still escape from your numb and drug-infected brain
So stuck in the mud you call a life sedated, self-castrated
Your existence is such a waste of time just make an effort and check your pride
I know the surface may look fine, but deep inside you're nothing but shit
Come alive and make my vision clear for all to see
Look inside and slash your way out of this misery
Lacerate my soul as I
Revive - Inside I have no feelings I ain't a thing you can control
Surrender to a stepchild of laceration
Rise - Alive without a meaning starting to lose control
Surrender to the stepchild of laceration
I feel so comfortable in my guilt 'cause things ain't that bad when you sin
At least I have a soul to sell deranged and quite obscene
Oh god, don't praise me like a whore keep your mouth shut and walk out that door
The human abstract at its peak I just removed the skin and saw the freak within
Come alive and make my vision clear for all to see
Look inside and slash your way out of this misery
Lacerate my soul as I
Revive - Inside I have no feelings I ain't a thing you can control
Surrender to a stepchild of laceration
Rise - Alive without a meaning starting to lose control
Surrender to the stepchild of laceration
Laceration crawling inside my skin 'till I bleed
Lost in perdition why don't you pray for me anymore
I feel so cold laceration child I feel so lost in perdition starting to revive
Revive - Inside I have no feelings I ain't a thing you can control
Surrender to a stepchild of laceration
Rise - Alive without a meaning starting to lose control
Surrender to the stepchild of laceration
So stuck in the mud you call a life sedated, self-castrated
Your existence is such a waste of time just make an effort and check your pride
I know the surface may look fine, but deep inside you're nothing but shit
Come alive and make my vision clear for all to see
Look inside and slash your way out of this misery
Lacerate my soul as I
Revive - Inside I have no feelings I ain't a thing you can control
Surrender to a stepchild of laceration
Rise - Alive without a meaning starting to lose control
Surrender to the stepchild of laceration
I feel so comfortable in my guilt 'cause things ain't that bad when you sin
At least I have a soul to sell deranged and quite obscene
Oh god, don't praise me like a whore keep your mouth shut and walk out that door
The human abstract at its peak I just removed the skin and saw the freak within
Come alive and make my vision clear for all to see
Look inside and slash your way out of this misery
Lacerate my soul as I
Revive - Inside I have no feelings I ain't a thing you can control
Surrender to a stepchild of laceration
Rise - Alive without a meaning starting to lose control
Surrender to the stepchild of laceration
Laceration crawling inside my skin 'till I bleed
Lost in perdition why don't you pray for me anymore
I feel so cold laceration child I feel so lost in perdition starting to revive
Revive - Inside I have no feelings I ain't a thing you can control
Surrender to a stepchild of laceration
Rise - Alive without a meaning starting to lose control
Surrender to the stepchild of laceration
Lyrics submitted by ChubbyHuggs
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.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.