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.
Chose a life in circuses
Jumped into the deepest end
Pushing himself to all extremes
Made it, people became his friend
Now they stood and noticed him
Wanted to be a part of it
Pulled out some poor machinery
So he worked 'til the pieces fit
The people were intrigued
His wife held back her fears
The headlines gave acclaim
He'd realized their dreams
Faster than a bullet from a gun
He is faster than everyone
Quicker than the blinking of an eye
Like a flash you could miss him going by
No one knows quite how he does it
But it's true, they say
"He's the master of going faster"
Now he moved into the space
That the special people share
Right on the edge of do or die
Where there is nothing left to spare
Still the crowds came pouring in
Some had hoped to see him fail
Filling their hearts with jealousies
Crazy people with love so frail
The people were intrigued
His wife held back her fears
The headlines gave acclaim
He'd realized their dreams
Faster than a bullet from a gun
He is faster than everyone
Quicker than the blinking of an eye
Like a flash you could miss him going by
No one knows quite how he does it
But it's true, they say
"He's the master of going faster"
No need to wonder why
His wife held back her fears
So few have even tried
To realize their dreams
Faster than a bullet from a gun
He is faster than everyone
Quicker than the blinking of an eye
Like a flash you could miss him going by
No one knows quite how he does it
But it's true, they say
"He's the master of going faster"
No one knows quite how he does it
But it's true, they say
"He's the master of going faster"
Jumped into the deepest end
Pushing himself to all extremes
Made it, people became his friend
Now they stood and noticed him
Wanted to be a part of it
Pulled out some poor machinery
So he worked 'til the pieces fit
The people were intrigued
His wife held back her fears
The headlines gave acclaim
He'd realized their dreams
Faster than a bullet from a gun
He is faster than everyone
Quicker than the blinking of an eye
Like a flash you could miss him going by
No one knows quite how he does it
But it's true, they say
"He's the master of going faster"
Now he moved into the space
That the special people share
Right on the edge of do or die
Where there is nothing left to spare
Still the crowds came pouring in
Some had hoped to see him fail
Filling their hearts with jealousies
Crazy people with love so frail
The people were intrigued
His wife held back her fears
The headlines gave acclaim
He'd realized their dreams
Faster than a bullet from a gun
He is faster than everyone
Quicker than the blinking of an eye
Like a flash you could miss him going by
No one knows quite how he does it
But it's true, they say
"He's the master of going faster"
No need to wonder why
His wife held back her fears
So few have even tried
To realize their dreams
Faster than a bullet from a gun
He is faster than everyone
Quicker than the blinking of an eye
Like a flash you could miss him going by
No one knows quite how he does it
But it's true, they say
"He's the master of going faster"
No one knows quite how he does it
But it's true, they say
"He's the master of going faster"
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Faster Lyrics as written by George Harrison
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.”
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