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 of these grateful looks
All these grateful eyes
All the furious stares these fretful sighs
Promising everything
To everyone
We'll be back soon
You're my favorite one
And I'll keep it quiet
I'll hold you dear
The whispering fills the ear
Tell me you'll stay
We would have such fun
And the lie, you don't need anyone
And the screams, the wails, and the call
The headiness of the fall
Ten-thousand miles from where we began
Falling asleep with a picture in hand
It was all for a woman
You say that you're grateful for the time alone
Two years away and I don't miss home
And someone asks you if, you ever think of her
So you smile politely and you demur
But then all at once your head starts to swim
And you can feel her breath on your skin
If I let you stay, the same spot today
She's above you, below you in ways
And you're shivering cold
Like you're just ten years old
And she's lying asleep in your bed
And you're standing beside her
The light from inside her
Filling up the darkness in your head
It was all, for a woman
You've drowned in our teasing
You've forgotten the reason
The muse inspires the art
You'd give anything for
For her to say them once more
The words you believed at the start
Ten-thousand miles from where it began
Falling asleep with her picture in hand
And it was all, it was all
For the look in her eyes
Of the promise and the lie of a woman
All these grateful eyes
All the furious stares these fretful sighs
Promising everything
To everyone
We'll be back soon
You're my favorite one
And I'll keep it quiet
I'll hold you dear
The whispering fills the ear
Tell me you'll stay
We would have such fun
And the lie, you don't need anyone
And the screams, the wails, and the call
The headiness of the fall
Ten-thousand miles from where we began
Falling asleep with a picture in hand
It was all for a woman
You say that you're grateful for the time alone
Two years away and I don't miss home
And someone asks you if, you ever think of her
So you smile politely and you demur
But then all at once your head starts to swim
And you can feel her breath on your skin
If I let you stay, the same spot today
She's above you, below you in ways
And you're shivering cold
Like you're just ten years old
And she's lying asleep in your bed
And you're standing beside her
The light from inside her
Filling up the darkness in your head
It was all, for a woman
You've drowned in our teasing
You've forgotten the reason
The muse inspires the art
You'd give anything for
For her to say them once more
The words you believed at the start
Ten-thousand miles from where it began
Falling asleep with her picture in hand
And it was all, it was all
For the look in her eyes
Of the promise and the lie of a woman
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This song is about being on tour. He promises his girl that he loves her and she's his one and only(We'll be back soon, You're my favorite one), but after a few months on the road he gets wrapped up in his life as a rock and roll star. He knows that she's his favorite, but doesn't think she can stay faithful due to fear of being along. He starts thinking of terrible thoughts of her with someone else (And a lie, you don't need anyone) and then they begin to argue (And the screams, the wails, and the call,The headiness of the Fall) and lose touch.
Even though he tries to play it off like he's a big rock star and doesn't need her he can't lie to himself. He starts thinking about her more and more (But then all at once your head starts to swell, And you can feel her breath on your skin). Thinking about former memories so much that he can feel her. These memories refuse to leave his head (If I let you stay, the same spot today). Slowly these memories start destroying the bad ones (And you're standing beside her, The light from inside her, Filling up the darkness in your head)
The thought slowly take over his mind where he can't think about anything else (And you've drowned in the teasing). He then realizes that all of this fame was to impress the girl he left behind (You've forgotten the reason, The muse inspired the art). He then regrets everything and wishes for nothing more just to go back to day one and hear her say that she loves him for who he is and not the rock and roll star he has become (You'd give anything for, Her to say them once more,The words you believed at the start) because it was all for a woman, it was all for her.
Good guess todublem.<br /> This song is really about a serious relationship, maybe a marriage, that has broken up. He still thinks longingly about her, but the relationship is over.
Funny that you know so much and leave a 2 sentence response. Mikel disagreed when he said "this song is about being on tour" before he played it when I saw them.
I seen them play in Manchester last week. they played this, I must say, I was nearly in tears. but before they played this Mikel's words were 'This song's about our last tour, we were on the road for 2 and a half years, singing about my ex girlfriend, trying to get her out of my head.' So my best guess is that it's just about that whole tour, just thinking back about your ex, not being able to forget.<br /> <br /> Such an amazing song. why these have only just been signed to a record label in the UK is beyond me.