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 I come home
When I come home
Oh I hear you washing in the shower
Mirages of you
Mirages of you
Even steam pouring through the crack at the floor
I won't lose it, I won't lose it, I won't lose it
I won't lose it, I won't lose it
Hold it steady, hold it steady, hold it steady,
Hold it steady, hold it steady
Over top one another:
All by myself/I can lift a car
All by myself/I can lift a car
I can lift a car up all by myself
Over top one another:
All by myself/Up all by myself
All by myself/Up all by myself
I can lift a car up all by myself
So very nice
So very nice
My grandpa's leather jacket and goggles
So you kissed me
On the futon
Oh I hope you like it in Chicago
Hold it steady, hold it steady, hold it steady,
Hold it steady, hold it steady
I won't lose it, I won't lose it, I won't lose it
I won't lose it, I won't lose it
Over top one another:
All by myself/I can lift a car up
All by myself/I can lift a car up
I can lift a car up all by myself
Over top one another:
All by myself/Up all by myself
All by myself/Up all by myself
I can lift a car up all by myself
Did you did you
Did you know that
I can lift a car up all by myself
Well no misunderstanding
I'm not saying that you came
But you did
I can lift a car up all by myself
I've been going out
And trying to stay fit
Well I met someone who wears your glasses
She kissed me on
My new futon
Oh I'm clumsy cause she finds me attractive
I won't lose it, I won't lose it, I won't lose it
I won't lose it, I won't lose it
Over top one another:
All by myself/I can lift a car
All by myself/I can lift a car
I can lift a car up all by myself
Over top one another:
All by myself/Up all by myself
All by myself/Up all by myself
I can lift a car up all by myself
Did you did you
Did you know that
I can lift a car up all by myself
Well no misunderstanding
I'm not saying that you came
But you did
I can lift a car up all by myself
When I come home
Oh I hear you washing in the shower
Mirages of you
Mirages of you
Even steam pouring through the crack at the floor
I won't lose it, I won't lose it, I won't lose it
I won't lose it, I won't lose it
Hold it steady, hold it steady, hold it steady,
Hold it steady, hold it steady
Over top one another:
All by myself/I can lift a car
All by myself/I can lift a car
I can lift a car up all by myself
Over top one another:
All by myself/Up all by myself
All by myself/Up all by myself
I can lift a car up all by myself
So very nice
So very nice
My grandpa's leather jacket and goggles
So you kissed me
On the futon
Oh I hope you like it in Chicago
Hold it steady, hold it steady, hold it steady,
Hold it steady, hold it steady
I won't lose it, I won't lose it, I won't lose it
I won't lose it, I won't lose it
Over top one another:
All by myself/I can lift a car up
All by myself/I can lift a car up
I can lift a car up all by myself
Over top one another:
All by myself/Up all by myself
All by myself/Up all by myself
I can lift a car up all by myself
Did you did you
Did you know that
I can lift a car up all by myself
Well no misunderstanding
I'm not saying that you came
But you did
I can lift a car up all by myself
I've been going out
And trying to stay fit
Well I met someone who wears your glasses
She kissed me on
My new futon
Oh I'm clumsy cause she finds me attractive
I won't lose it, I won't lose it, I won't lose it
I won't lose it, I won't lose it
Over top one another:
All by myself/I can lift a car
All by myself/I can lift a car
I can lift a car up all by myself
Over top one another:
All by myself/Up all by myself
All by myself/Up all by myself
I can lift a car up all by myself
Did you did you
Did you know that
I can lift a car up all by myself
Well no misunderstanding
I'm not saying that you came
But you did
I can lift a car up all by myself
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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I'm actually really surprised that a lot of people take this song differently. I find this song to be about being in a relationship and them breaking up, he mentions hearing her in the shower and then mentioning it's mirages aka it's not really her he's remembering their relationship. He mentions "I won't lose it hold it steady" and that's him being upset and sad trying to be strong. And I take the term "I can lift a car all by myself" as "I am strong I will get over this all by myself I am so strong I can lift a car".
He then mentions kissing her on a futon and her moving to Chicago. So she probably had to move and they broke up because long distance wasn't an option. He even mentions going out and staying fit like he's trying to get over her and focus on other things.
Then he talks about a new girl and a new futon representing him moving on but still mentions that she wears the same kind of glasses his old girl had. I think this song is just about moving on from a relationship that didn't go bad persay just moving on and normal stuff.