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.
It has come to this...
We've been looking for the savior for thousands of years,
but became blind on the way
And the Blinds are dreaming of the color of their soul
For a daughter jumping off a bridge...
For a man screaming in the rain...
For a girl crying...
We live and die spinning in a wheel
Now look me in the eyes and tell me you never felt there has to be more to this life
Tell me we're only flesh rotting in an ocean of time
We live and die spinning in a wheel, without ever knowing who we are
The magicians are out of breath
52 years of tricks and lies
Hiding the monuments of mars
With a bunny in a hat
We've never been alone
Alone... as just one nest, in just one tree
Truth lies further from the sun
Underneath Cydonia's sands
Let go of your paradigm
For a father passing to his son
For a priest talking to a man
For a man talking to a grave
We are the strings of the quantum symphony
The uninvited came in masses
Amongst ghosts we sleep
...but what makes that we'll never be like them
Is the fact that we have these emotions
The fact that we can stand strong in front of Divinities, in tears and fists, and defy Them
shouting: ''You'll never take our wings''... because WE, mortals, have nothing in this
world... but our love
May you see the face of the truth
Find your way to the 4th door
to the monuments of mars
Above the suspicious stare of the moon
These lights are dancing in the sky....
Singing tales of the dark rift
Explaining colors to the blinds
The grander scheme of our own past
Another day to spin again
We've been looking for the savior for thousands of years,
but became blind on the way
And the Blinds are dreaming of the color of their soul
For a daughter jumping off a bridge...
For a man screaming in the rain...
For a girl crying...
We live and die spinning in a wheel
Now look me in the eyes and tell me you never felt there has to be more to this life
Tell me we're only flesh rotting in an ocean of time
We live and die spinning in a wheel, without ever knowing who we are
The magicians are out of breath
52 years of tricks and lies
Hiding the monuments of mars
With a bunny in a hat
We've never been alone
Alone... as just one nest, in just one tree
Truth lies further from the sun
Underneath Cydonia's sands
Let go of your paradigm
For a father passing to his son
For a priest talking to a man
For a man talking to a grave
We are the strings of the quantum symphony
The uninvited came in masses
Amongst ghosts we sleep
...but what makes that we'll never be like them
Is the fact that we have these emotions
The fact that we can stand strong in front of Divinities, in tears and fists, and defy Them
shouting: ''You'll never take our wings''... because WE, mortals, have nothing in this
world... but our love
May you see the face of the truth
Find your way to the 4th door
to the monuments of mars
Above the suspicious stare of the moon
These lights are dancing in the sky....
Singing tales of the dark rift
Explaining colors to the blinds
The grander scheme of our own past
Another day to spin again
Lyrics submitted by dawnclover
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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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