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.
Sometimes I feel like I can't move on
nothing in life is turning me on
but I still see clearly, when I see you smiling
you know nothing seems to fit
I couldn't see my way through this shit
when every single second of my waking day
was thinking of you
thinking of you
you never know
that I am alive
I am alive
I want to grow
there are so many things I can do
just like falling in love with you
so take my hand now understand now
you can come here too
c'mon people we're making it now
yeah yeah yeah
c'mon people we're making it now
yeah yeah yeah
but today I worked it out
I got something I can shout about
someone who believes in all the things I'm thinking
but where have you gone
where have you gone
I'll never know
that I am alive
I am alive
I want to grow
there are so many things I can do
just like falling in love with you
so take my hand now understand now
you can come here too
c'mon people we're making it now
if only you could be with us
nothing in life is turning me on
but I still see clearly, when I see you smiling
you know nothing seems to fit
I couldn't see my way through this shit
when every single second of my waking day
was thinking of you
thinking of you
you never know
that I am alive
I am alive
I want to grow
there are so many things I can do
just like falling in love with you
so take my hand now understand now
you can come here too
c'mon people we're making it now
yeah yeah yeah
c'mon people we're making it now
yeah yeah yeah
but today I worked it out
I got something I can shout about
someone who believes in all the things I'm thinking
but where have you gone
where have you gone
I'll never know
that I am alive
I am alive
I want to grow
there are so many things I can do
just like falling in love with you
so take my hand now understand now
you can come here too
c'mon people we're making it now
if only you could be with us
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
C'mon People (We're Making It Now) Lyrics as written by Richard Ashcroft
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
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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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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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I have always thought that too, bakismaki.