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.
And hate runs through my blood
Well, my tongue was in love
But my heart, it was left above
I've gotta be leaving now
I thought I'd never be shut down
But girl, I'm black and blue
So beaten down for you
Well I'm beaten down and blue...
Don't break away
I'll waste away
Don't break away
Lay me out across the grey
Hours I should have kept at bay
I had no chance to get away
I can't escape my own mistake
Even more when it's sweet to the taste
Red stairs lead sense astray
I look up and see for faith
But, girl, just lean over and say
Lay me down
Pull me out
Take my crown
Submerge the doubt
But wait, I'll make my last request
See, this could be the best
But, blue, I need to rest
Well, I've been broken down
So much I's lost it now
I'll just stop and say
Girl, don't you worry 'bout a thing
Baby...
You're my baby...
Well, my tongue was in love
But my heart, it was left above
I've gotta be leaving now
I thought I'd never be shut down
But girl, I'm black and blue
So beaten down for you
Well I'm beaten down and blue...
Don't break away
I'll waste away
Don't break away
Lay me out across the grey
Hours I should have kept at bay
I had no chance to get away
I can't escape my own mistake
Even more when it's sweet to the taste
Red stairs lead sense astray
I look up and see for faith
But, girl, just lean over and say
Lay me down
Pull me out
Take my crown
Submerge the doubt
But wait, I'll make my last request
See, this could be the best
But, blue, I need to rest
Well, I've been broken down
So much I's lost it now
I'll just stop and say
Girl, don't you worry 'bout a thing
Baby...
You're my baby...
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This is what i make from it:
Hate runs through my blood Well, my tongue was in love My heart was left above I’ve got to be leaving now I thought I’d never be shot down But girl, I’m black and blue So beaten down for you Well, I’m beaten down and blue
(Don’t break away, I waste away, don’t waste away)
Lay me out across the grave Hours, I should have kept at bay I had no chance to get away I can’t escape my own escape Even more with this sweet to taste
Red stares lead sense astray I look up and see her face But girl, just lean over and say Lay me down Well, I, Oh, girl take my crown She breaks me down
(sorry)
Wait, I’ll make my last request See, this could be the best But boo, I need to rest Well, I’ve been broken down So watch who’s lost it now I just started to say
Girl, don’t you worry about a thing
I think you nailed it. I think it could be "I look up and seek for fate" though?<br /> <br /> Also for the missing part:<br /> "Lay me down<br /> Oh (I) put me out<br /> Take my crown again<br /> She's merged it down" (?)<br /> <br /> I think it could also be "So much has lost it now..."
And hate runs through my blood Well, my tongue was in love and my heart, it was left above (?)
I've gotta be leaving now I thought I'd never be shut down But, girl, I'm black and blue So beaten down for you Well I'm beaten down and blue...
(Don't break away) (I'll waste away) (Don't break away)
And lay me out across the grave Hours I should have kept at bay I had no chance to get away
I can't escape my own escape Even more when it's sweet to the taste
Red stairs lead sense astray I look up and see the faith (?) But, girl, just lean over and say
You'll lay me down (?) You take my crown (?) (?)
But wait, I'll make my last request See, this could be the best But, boo, I need to rest
Well, I've been broken down So much has lost it now (?) I'll just stop and say,
Girl, don't you worry bout a thing
(Girl, baby blue...)
The hatred in his blood controlling the tongue that speaks words of only love.
He's trying to fight it but it leaves him beaten up and tired. From trying to decide whether he wants to let his guard down for this girl and he begs "her" for some peace but then eventually he asks her to take his crown so she sort of enters his head and controls him in an emotional way.
If he let's this girl in his loneliness is dead and he enters a new phase in his life whether it ends up to be good or bad. He decides he wants to jump in and take the risk of it ending badly.
To me this whole song is a story of him struggling to make a decision for he could end up in a mess by the end of it.
Probably not as simple as that but I don't think he actually makes a decision at the end of it.
this is what I make of it , slightly different from "artslut" and "besselinco"
And hate runs through my blood well, my tongue was in love and my heart was left above
ive got to be leaving now i thought id never be shot down but girl im black and blue so beaten down for u well, im beaten down and blue
(dont break away, Ill waste away, dont break away)
and lay me out across the grave hours I should of kept at bay
I had no chance to get away I cant escape my own escape
Even more when its sweet to taste red stares lead sense astray
I look up and seek for faith but girl just lean over and say
Youll lay me down
and hear me out oh take my crown! Submerse me down
and wait , Ill made my last request see this could be the best but boo i need to rest well ive been broken down so much has lost it now i just started to say girl dont you worry about a thing girl , baby, Please...
GREAT SONG!
i think that second last verse is much less tame than one would expect...
"but girl just lean over and say you'll lay me down and pull me out you take my crown submerse the doubt"
sooooooo hauntingly beautiful