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.
I watched as the black sky parted back
Through fields of tar and thread
A tourniquet of lace and dialect
Our ceremony
I fall as the comfort rushes in
No terrifying dreams
I'll she'd my skin for you
Have I broken my addiction?
Dead inside, dead inside
Have I broken my addiction?
Dead inside
A picture of my genocide
Paralyze the light fell from your eyes
My hope is faded grey
Our wickedness we share
This ceremony
I watched as the antique sky turned black
Through fields of heroin
I'll she'd my skin for you
Have I broken my addiction?
Dead inside, dead inside
Have I broken my addiction?
Dead inside
A portrait of my genocide
Have I broken my addiction?
Dead inside, dead inside
Have I broken my addiction?
Dead inside
A portrait of my genocide
A portrait of the artist, a portrait of a young man
To sing this song in silence is grand,
Yeah,
Yeah!
My addiction!
Dead inside!
Broken!
Genocide!
My addiction!
Dead inside!
Broken!
My genocide!
Through fields of tar and thread
A tourniquet of lace and dialect
Our ceremony
I fall as the comfort rushes in
No terrifying dreams
I'll she'd my skin for you
Have I broken my addiction?
Dead inside, dead inside
Have I broken my addiction?
Dead inside
A picture of my genocide
Paralyze the light fell from your eyes
My hope is faded grey
Our wickedness we share
This ceremony
I watched as the antique sky turned black
Through fields of heroin
I'll she'd my skin for you
Have I broken my addiction?
Dead inside, dead inside
Have I broken my addiction?
Dead inside
A portrait of my genocide
Have I broken my addiction?
Dead inside, dead inside
Have I broken my addiction?
Dead inside
A portrait of my genocide
A portrait of the artist, a portrait of a young man
To sing this song in silence is grand,
Yeah,
Yeah!
My addiction!
Dead inside!
Broken!
Genocide!
My addiction!
Dead inside!
Broken!
My genocide!
Lyrics submitted by fr0zencreek
A Portrait of the Artist Lyrics as written by Nicholas Alexander Wiggins Angel Dejesus Ibarra
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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This song sounds like WiL's side project, William Control, minus the guitar.
i like this song, but i wish it had better music.
I'm pretty sure, I think it's obvious, that this song is about heroin. Either the use of it, the addiction of it, or just the drug itself.
"I fall as the comfort rushes in" - The injection of heroin
"Paralyze the light fell from your eyes My hope is faded grey Our wickedness we share" - WiL is saying he had a friend who possibly OD'd on heroin and they shared the needle (our wickedness we share)