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.
Out in the garden is half of a heaven
We're only bluffing, what not, what's for best?
And through walls what they told us
Unless we can prove that we're doing it
We can't have it all
He's gonna wangle a way to get out of
And she's an excuse and a wit that's on top on
And he's gone what they told us
Unless we can prove that we're doing it
We can't have it all
We can't have it all
Suddenly my feet, don't feet of mine
It all goes slow-mo
I don't know why I'm crying
Am I suspended in Gaffa?
Not 'til I am really for you
Not 'til I am really for you
Can I have it all?
It tried to get nearer but as it gets clearer
There's something, there are bee's in the way, it's a plank in me
I with a camera who's trying to get through it
Am I doing it, can I have it all now?
I pull up the plank and say, "thank you for yanking me"
Back to the fact that there's something to distract
Sometimes it's hard to know
If I'm doing it right, can I have it all now?
Can I have it all now?
Can I have it all?
I can't have it all
Suddenly my feet, don't feet of mine
It all goes slow-mo
I don't know why I'm crying
Am I suspended in Gaffa?
Not 'til I am really for you
Not 'til I am really for you
Can I have it all?
I won't open boxes that I am told not to
Or not open door or much better record
A girl in the mirror between you and me
She knows sending it, it's not getting anywhere at all
Not anywhere at all, no not a thing
She can't have it all
Suddenly my feet, don't feet of mine
It all goes slow-mo
I don't know why I'm crying
Am I suspended in Gaffa?
Not 'til I am really for you
Not 'til I am really for you
Suddenly my feet, don't feet of mine
It all goes slow-mo
I don't know why I'm crying
Am I suspended in Gaffa?
Not 'til I am really for you
Not 'til I am really for you
Can I have it all now?
We're only bluffing, what not, what's for best?
And through walls what they told us
Unless we can prove that we're doing it
We can't have it all
He's gonna wangle a way to get out of
And she's an excuse and a wit that's on top on
And he's gone what they told us
Unless we can prove that we're doing it
We can't have it all
We can't have it all
Suddenly my feet, don't feet of mine
It all goes slow-mo
I don't know why I'm crying
Am I suspended in Gaffa?
Not 'til I am really for you
Not 'til I am really for you
Can I have it all?
It tried to get nearer but as it gets clearer
There's something, there are bee's in the way, it's a plank in me
I with a camera who's trying to get through it
Am I doing it, can I have it all now?
I pull up the plank and say, "thank you for yanking me"
Back to the fact that there's something to distract
Sometimes it's hard to know
If I'm doing it right, can I have it all now?
Can I have it all now?
Can I have it all?
I can't have it all
Suddenly my feet, don't feet of mine
It all goes slow-mo
I don't know why I'm crying
Am I suspended in Gaffa?
Not 'til I am really for you
Not 'til I am really for you
Can I have it all?
I won't open boxes that I am told not to
Or not open door or much better record
A girl in the mirror between you and me
She knows sending it, it's not getting anywhere at all
Not anywhere at all, no not a thing
She can't have it all
Suddenly my feet, don't feet of mine
It all goes slow-mo
I don't know why I'm crying
Am I suspended in Gaffa?
Not 'til I am really for you
Not 'til I am really for you
Suddenly my feet, don't feet of mine
It all goes slow-mo
I don't know why I'm crying
Am I suspended in Gaffa?
Not 'til I am really for you
Not 'til I am really for you
Can I have it all now?
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by irondiet
Suspended in Gaffa Lyrics as written by Kate Bush
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
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.