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.
Warm invitation
To breathe in my first breath
Shoulders sure are heavy
With these wings about to stretch
I'm waking up
Clinging to the there afters
Sensing summer winds are coming in
When just above me
A hundred of my brothers
Are ready for this journey to begin
And we're off, heading how now
And in my body there is buried some strange memory
Of how to fly, of what to follow
And it will lead me to the origin of me
Pre-history
How long was I asleep?
All these colors opening like bright kaleidoscopes
Of waking dreams you won't believe the view
I'm taking a dive into the crystal river
I'm gonna find a friend who gives
The sweetest kiss creation ever knew
Oh and when she blushes all the secrets in her eyes
Become the songs of old and wiser ones
Who flew this path before me
And if you hear it too, then why not sing it?
Pick up where they left off, wing it
The rest of them will marvel at the sky
And we're off, heading how now
And in my body there is buried some strange memory
Of how to fly, of what to follow
And it will lead me to the origin of me
Pre-history
And in my body there is buried some strange memory
Of how to fly, of what to follow
And it will lead me to the origin of me
Pre-history
To breathe in my first breath
Shoulders sure are heavy
With these wings about to stretch
I'm waking up
Clinging to the there afters
Sensing summer winds are coming in
When just above me
A hundred of my brothers
Are ready for this journey to begin
And we're off, heading how now
And in my body there is buried some strange memory
Of how to fly, of what to follow
And it will lead me to the origin of me
Pre-history
How long was I asleep?
All these colors opening like bright kaleidoscopes
Of waking dreams you won't believe the view
I'm taking a dive into the crystal river
I'm gonna find a friend who gives
The sweetest kiss creation ever knew
Oh and when she blushes all the secrets in her eyes
Become the songs of old and wiser ones
Who flew this path before me
And if you hear it too, then why not sing it?
Pick up where they left off, wing it
The rest of them will marvel at the sky
And we're off, heading how now
And in my body there is buried some strange memory
Of how to fly, of what to follow
And it will lead me to the origin of me
Pre-history
And in my body there is buried some strange memory
Of how to fly, of what to follow
And it will lead me to the origin of me
Pre-history
Lyrics submitted by rowkem388
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.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Personally, I have always viewed this song as someone who is entering the gay community (or whatever community you wish to imagine I suppose) for the first time. The first stanza sounds to me to be about waking up, i.e. coming out of the closet and finding your own identity. After that he sees hundred of his brother all flying on one journey, and eventually starts singing about the ones who flew it before him. I interpret that as seeing how large & expansive the community is, as well as it's history. There have been gay communities in Western Society for centuries, though you wouldn't know unless you looked. The rest I think is describing what it feels like to be entering all of it, such as the new perspective it gives you on the world (she blushes stanza) and also the meaning it gives himself as a person. Hearing this song puts me at ease because I no longer feel alone, now or in the past. Even in the gay community, life has always ever been moving forward and we all are a part of that movement, however way we like to be. I LOVE this song!!