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.
My father used to take a drink or two when I was young
It was then hallucinations always dangled from his tongue
The sky's ablaze with ladies' legs he used to say
They're kicking from the clouds
Shoes fall thru the morning haze & splat like eggs amongst the crowds
Can you see them, son' my father asked
Now they're dancing plain as day
His eyes were rolling fiercely, there was little I could say
How can you go on I'd like to ask How can you bear the night
Instead I hold my tongue, because I know we'd only fight
The sky's ablaze with ladies legs, he'd say
They're kicking from the clouds, shoes fall through the morning haze
And splat like eggs amongst the crowds, can you see it, boy
The sky's ablaze with ladies legs, he'd say
They're kicking from the clouds, shoes fall through the morning haze
And splat like eggs amongst the crowds, can you see it, boy
The sky's ablaze with ladies legs, he'd say
They're kicking from the clouds, shoes fall through the morning haze
And splat like eggs amongst the crowds, can you see it, boy
It was then hallucinations always dangled from his tongue
The sky's ablaze with ladies' legs he used to say
They're kicking from the clouds
Shoes fall thru the morning haze & splat like eggs amongst the crowds
Can you see them, son' my father asked
Now they're dancing plain as day
His eyes were rolling fiercely, there was little I could say
How can you go on I'd like to ask How can you bear the night
Instead I hold my tongue, because I know we'd only fight
The sky's ablaze with ladies legs, he'd say
They're kicking from the clouds, shoes fall through the morning haze
And splat like eggs amongst the crowds, can you see it, boy
The sky's ablaze with ladies legs, he'd say
They're kicking from the clouds, shoes fall through the morning haze
And splat like eggs amongst the crowds, can you see it, boy
The sky's ablaze with ladies legs, he'd say
They're kicking from the clouds, shoes fall through the morning haze
And splat like eggs amongst the crowds, can you see it, boy
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
The Sky's Ablaze Lyrics as written by Don Edward Fagenson David Was
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.