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 pick up a broken comb
Run it through my thin grey hair
Though I don’t have any plans tonight
I’m not going anywhere
Well, I should’ve seen this coming
Don’t know why I’m surprised
Every vessel on its way down
Takes with it the captain’s life
Though I’m blind, my dear, I see
The parade goes on without me
My body aches, my mind, it weeps
For you, for you
Tonight I’m locked outside my building
Guess I must have lost the keys
So I’ll sit here on the sidewalk
Let the snow fall on my knees
And if I made it to a payphone
I don’t know who I would call
So for now I close my eyes and rest
My crooked back against the wall
I read that old men will see visions
Young men will follow dreams
I believed it when I read it
I see your face in everything
Now your honey jars are frozen
In the window your books have browned
And there’s too much room inside our bed
I think I’ll join you in the ground
Though I’m blind, my dear, I see
Let the chorus sing without me
My body breaks, my mind it sleeps
With you
Run it through my thin grey hair
Though I don’t have any plans tonight
I’m not going anywhere
Well, I should’ve seen this coming
Don’t know why I’m surprised
Every vessel on its way down
Takes with it the captain’s life
Though I’m blind, my dear, I see
The parade goes on without me
My body aches, my mind, it weeps
For you, for you
Tonight I’m locked outside my building
Guess I must have lost the keys
So I’ll sit here on the sidewalk
Let the snow fall on my knees
And if I made it to a payphone
I don’t know who I would call
So for now I close my eyes and rest
My crooked back against the wall
I read that old men will see visions
Young men will follow dreams
I believed it when I read it
I see your face in everything
Now your honey jars are frozen
In the window your books have browned
And there’s too much room inside our bed
I think I’ll join you in the ground
Though I’m blind, my dear, I see
Let the chorus sing without me
My body breaks, my mind it sleeps
With you
Lyrics submitted by roartheskies
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Devastating song about widdowhood. I mean, this song is just so sad. I can't imagine going through the situation that songwriter is painting. Makes me weep every time.
I believe it's about widowhood as well. When he says "the parade goes on without me," he means that life and happiness continue on, even amidst his depression. Even though he's blinded by sadness, he can still recognize this fact, and it only makes him "ache" for his lost love even harder. Chills.
???????? It reminds me to never take for granted what you have! I was seeing an older guy twice my age. At first I thought of him when listening to this song but in reverse because he’s twice my age I would be the one left behind. but I am no longer with him because we weren’t meant to be and I am not in love with him. But I became angry and then sad for him because he had a beautiful family for many many years. He wasn’t quite honest with me about the entire situation and I know this to be true. What my parents taught me and my brothers was that family is everything and when you were in a marriage the longer you’re in it, the harder it can become. But you don’t give up because the grass is not greener as they say. My parents are the best examples of that and I love them to death. I would not want to do to my children and grandchildren what he has done and it rips my heart out to see their family divided and basically it is his fault and he would hate me and kill me if he heard me say this. he has been and I believe he still is a chronic cheater which is why I am not with him the other reason is he’s twice my age and in a different state I just don’t love him. I believe he’s going to be alone and I believe his ex-wife loved him more than life itself what she was willing to go through for him it’s unbelievable when I look at it. I don’t think she was crazy I think she was crazy and laugh and went through a lot with him. And I just didn’t see it at first the entire picture. But now this song makes me weep for him. No I will let him like she. I am certain of this because of all the time I’ve had to reflect on the situation once I got out of it. She is a good person he is too he is just set in his ways . But all those years together it’s just sad that he threw it away and they all suffer now and he can’t get that back. I pray every single week for him. If he would just make amends but he is completely ignorant and will not admit to anyone, mainly because I think he fears he will look foolish because of what he’s done to her. That should not matter so that is why I pray for him. I fear for him and he will end up alone this song so much her mind him and her ????????
( and you know, I could feel it in my heart that he’s the type of person that falls in love so easily when he’s with someone, but even when we were together I could feel it and see it and all he could see was her. He would tell me I’m certifiably insane for saying that. But because I am younger and all that, I think he was more obsessed with me but no matter what at the end of the day I could feel it in my bones all he could see was her he’s just trying to shove it way down deep inside)