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.
You couldn't get what you were after
After all was said and done
Amid the echoes of the screams and the laughter
Cracking the blinds to the noonday sun
Running out of room, tugging at the tether
Old desires on the closet shelf
You read between the lines until the lines ran
together
Somehow had to save yourself
chorus
'Cause it don't come back once it's gone
Now you wonder why you had to wait so long
Wasn't no sense being where you don't belong
Got to save yourself
Now your bad boy runs you ragged
But the nice guy bores you flat to tears
He sends you flowers and birthday cards
He tries so hard and he's out of here
'Cause it's all you can handle just to stay okay
You don't need nobody's pain
You've got no room for baggage
Passengers must now de-plane
chorus
'Cause it don't come back once it's gone
Now you wonder why you had to wait so long
Wasn't no sense being where you don't belong
Got to save yourself
Your new job keeps you busy
The old car runs alright
The hot wind off the concrete
Sometimes keeps you up at night
The lights go off in the building
And you're sitting there alone
'Cause the girls and boys you run with
Have all up and gone home
So you're sifting through the ashes
Getting way down dark and deep
You've got your life all figured out
But you still don't get much sleep
chorus
'Cause it don't come back once it's gone
Now you wonder why you had to wait so long
Wasn't no sense being where you don't belong
Got to save yourself
After all was said and done
Amid the echoes of the screams and the laughter
Cracking the blinds to the noonday sun
Running out of room, tugging at the tether
Old desires on the closet shelf
You read between the lines until the lines ran
together
Somehow had to save yourself
chorus
'Cause it don't come back once it's gone
Now you wonder why you had to wait so long
Wasn't no sense being where you don't belong
Got to save yourself
Now your bad boy runs you ragged
But the nice guy bores you flat to tears
He sends you flowers and birthday cards
He tries so hard and he's out of here
'Cause it's all you can handle just to stay okay
You don't need nobody's pain
You've got no room for baggage
Passengers must now de-plane
chorus
'Cause it don't come back once it's gone
Now you wonder why you had to wait so long
Wasn't no sense being where you don't belong
Got to save yourself
Your new job keeps you busy
The old car runs alright
The hot wind off the concrete
Sometimes keeps you up at night
The lights go off in the building
And you're sitting there alone
'Cause the girls and boys you run with
Have all up and gone home
So you're sifting through the ashes
Getting way down dark and deep
You've got your life all figured out
But you still don't get much sleep
chorus
'Cause it don't come back once it's gone
Now you wonder why you had to wait so long
Wasn't no sense being where you don't belong
Got to save yourself
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Save Yourself Lyrics as written by James Mc Murtry
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,