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.
When she sleeps
There is a fever dream, yeah
It brings a night terror
To harm this fragile bird
She speaks in tongues
Her words they come undone, yeah
And with a wayward mind
She struggles though the night
All that I can do
Is hope she makes it through
Through the night
Through the night
These cold nightmares
They make her worse for wear
Lost in the dark
She's got a heavy heart
And when she wakes
In her fragile state
Well, she calls my name
Hoping that I keep her safe
All that I can do
Is hope she makes it through
All the I can do
Is hope she makes it through
Through the night
Through the night
Through the night
Through the night
All that I can do
Is hope she makes it through
All that I can do
Is hope she makes it through
Through the night
There is a fever dream, yeah
It brings a night terror
To harm this fragile bird
She speaks in tongues
Her words they come undone, yeah
And with a wayward mind
She struggles though the night
All that I can do
Is hope she makes it through
Through the night
Through the night
These cold nightmares
They make her worse for wear
Lost in the dark
She's got a heavy heart
And when she wakes
In her fragile state
Well, she calls my name
Hoping that I keep her safe
All that I can do
Is hope she makes it through
All the I can do
Is hope she makes it through
Through the night
Through the night
Through the night
Through the night
All that I can do
Is hope she makes it through
All that I can do
Is hope she makes it through
Through the night
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
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
I'm pretty sure this is about his wife (Leah Miller) and her night terrors. I saw it in an interview somewhere. Cool new song!
I hope the whole new album is going to be like this! I love City and Colour but I only ever listen to him when I'm sad, but this I can listen to all day without feeling down. And yeah I read this is about his wife and her night terrors too.
I hope the whole new album is going to be like this! I love City and Colour but I only ever listen to him when I'm sad, but this I can listen to all day without feeling down. And yeah I read this is about his wife and her night terrors too.
Night terrors makes a lot of sense about the song's meaning. I agree, Peterallen900. Dallas doesn't always have the most uplifting music but I can't help but love it all. This song has such a raw feel to it, I can't wait to hear the rest of the CD.
I think this is about night terrors, horrible memories haunting someone close to you-those times where there is nothing you can do but be there.
I just heard this for the first time tonight. It's amazing, raw emotion. It's so real to me because of my own experience so similar to this song. I went through a lot of trauma and over the past few years would wake up with nightmares, drenched in sweat and afraid. And what did I do? I reached over to my bedside table and hit play on my stereo. I listened to so much music every night to get me back to sleep-lots of the time it was City and Colour...As much as these lyrics are a bit too close to home for me, I'm blown away by this song. bravo.
I'm certain the lyrics are "They make her worse for wear" not "They make her words for ware". Beautiful song. Everything that man does is gold.
"These cold nightmares, they make her worse for where, lost in the dark."
The song is about the futility of one to fix a conflict that deeply concerns him, but is beyond his control even though it's right in front of him. There's nothing he knows to do but to be there when the problem gets the best of what he loves.
The lyrics tell a story of a man, who witnesses his lover speaking incoherently in a nightmare. "Her words they come undone" suggests the girl's words mean nothing, and the problem is beyond her control as well.