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.
With a hammer and nails and a fear of failure we are building a shed
Between here and heaven, between the wait and the wedding
For as long as we both shall be dead to the world
Beyond the boys and the girls trying to keep us calm
We can practice our lines ’til we’re deaf and blind
To ourselves, to each other, where it’s
Fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
And it’s warm, not hot; have we all forgotten that we’re getting old?
With an arrow and bow and some seeds left to sow, we are staking our claim
On ground so fertile, we forget who we’ve hurt along the way
And reach out for a strange hand to hold
Someone strong, but not bold enough to tear down the wall
’Cause we ain’t lost enough to find the stars ain’t crossed—why align them?
Why fall hard, not soft into
Fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
Where it’s warm, not hot; have we all forgotten that we’re getting old?
And it’s fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
And it’s warm, not hot; has everyone forgotten that we’re getting old?
And it’s fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
And it’s warm, not hot; have we all forgotten that we’re getting old?
Between here and heaven, between the wait and the wedding
For as long as we both shall be dead to the world
Beyond the boys and the girls trying to keep us calm
We can practice our lines ’til we’re deaf and blind
To ourselves, to each other, where it’s
Fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
And it’s warm, not hot; have we all forgotten that we’re getting old?
With an arrow and bow and some seeds left to sow, we are staking our claim
On ground so fertile, we forget who we’ve hurt along the way
And reach out for a strange hand to hold
Someone strong, but not bold enough to tear down the wall
’Cause we ain’t lost enough to find the stars ain’t crossed—why align them?
Why fall hard, not soft into
Fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
Where it’s warm, not hot; have we all forgotten that we’re getting old?
And it’s fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
And it’s warm, not hot; has everyone forgotten that we’re getting old?
And it’s fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
And it’s warm, not hot; have we all forgotten that we’re getting old?
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
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."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I have only just found this song but my thoughts are that it is about so much more than just relationships and more about finding someone, falling in love, starting a family and living your lives together. I have added my thoughts to the sections of the lyrics below;
With a hammer and nails and a fear of failure we are building a shed - Building a home together
Between here and heaven, between the wait and the wedding For as long as we both shall be dead to the world
From getting married, living our lives until "the wait" until our time on this planet is finished.
Beyond the boys and the girls trying to keep us calm We can practice our lines ’til we’re deaf and blind To ourselves, to each other, where it’s
Fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold And it’s warm, not hot; have we all forgotten that we’re getting old?
With an arrow and bow and some seeds left to sow, we are staking our claim On ground so fertile, we forget who we’ve hurt along the way
And reach out for a strange hand to hold Someone strong, but not bold enough to tear down the wall ’Cause we ain’t lost enough to find the stars ain’t crossed—why align them? Why fall hard, not soft into
When you are young, you want to take on the world. As you get older your priorities change, and you realise that falling and staying in love, creating a happy home, having children and raising them to successful adults and growing old together is where real happiness lies.
Fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold Where it’s warm, not hot; have we all forgotten that we’re getting old?
Anyway, this is what this song says to me. I've already told my family that I want this played at my funeral (which I hope is a few years away yet) as I think it sums up what's important in life - falling in love, staying in love, creating a happy family and home.