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.
Denied, a life in retreat
Living on your knees
It's alright, you're still light on your feet
But you can't run from me
Another silent hour, another golden mile
Another silent hour, another golden mile
Another empty heart, another bitter smile
Another silent hour, another golden mile
No fight, there's no crushing defeat
It's a lie run free
Those lies, they're precious to me
Come along, leave me be
For a silent hour, for a golden mile
For a silent hour, for a golden mile
There is bliss in this mess
There is madness all around
For a silent hour, for a golden mile
Say the words, break the spell
Say the words, break the spell
Say the words in your mind
Before you shout out loud
Living on your knees
It's alright, you're still light on your feet
But you can't run from me
Another silent hour, another golden mile
Another silent hour, another golden mile
Another empty heart, another bitter smile
Another silent hour, another golden mile
No fight, there's no crushing defeat
It's a lie run free
Those lies, they're precious to me
Come along, leave me be
For a silent hour, for a golden mile
For a silent hour, for a golden mile
There is bliss in this mess
There is madness all around
For a silent hour, for a golden mile
Say the words, break the spell
Say the words, break the spell
Say the words in your mind
Before you shout out loud
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
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
The background vocals at the tail-end of the chorus always get me. An entire EP album full of amazing guitar work and drumming and all it takes is a few voices wailing on the last song to send me crumbling.
I feel like this song is about the personification of a god/goddess that resides in the realm of karma.
Love this song. Of course, with music, to each person their own interpretations. To me it sounds like: His first verse talks about his upbringing, and how he views himself as someone who has suffered misfortunes & missed opportunities. (Whether he sees himself as the proprietor of these issues I'm not sure. He does use the word "denied")
I think the chorus could be about his own spits and sputters in life... I don't know much about mr. Rossen but I think we all succumb to the issues in our lives at one point or another. Empty hearts and bitter smiles being the relationships we hurt, usually our closest loved ones.
The next verse feels like it could be about something/someone specific to his life, but a broader interpretation could be about what we expect to happen when we attempt to tackle our issues. We expect it to be a fight a "crushing defeat." Here we have his subconscious voice telling him it's okay to make mistakes, and to let go of lies he's been told. But he, as well as most of us have, has an adamant will to hold on to petty, comforting "truths."
In the second verse, here he goes again - continuing on with his toxic cycles of spits and sputters of motivation and the lack of it. He mentions "bliss in this mess" and the "madness all around." He alludes to his understanding that there is a silver lining to his pains, the world's pains. He has since been heard singing "magic all around" which I feel further strengthens that interpretation.
The last verse I can really related to. It's that feeling when you've had enough. You're trying so hard to unload some of the pressure you out yourself through. You see that there's more to life that keeping things bottled. You also know things could go wrong if you don't let it out...
Side note: This WHOLE song and interpretation could easily be flipped, as he could also be singing about someone in his life that has gone through / put him through a lot. But usually I tend to think music is more introspective...
This is all just my interpretation of a beautiful piece of music : )
I just recently got really into this song, and so my interpretation might be a little hasty, but i definitely get some kinda feeling from it. Anyways, here I go:
I think this song is kind of written about Daniel himself. I think he sees himself as a really complicated person, who has kind of allowed himself to miss out on a lot of things in life, just because of his complicated, perhaps confused, nature. However, I think he also feels that his strange, solitary way of life has given him some experiences which he has truly loved.
I think the ending part (also just a random stab in the dark by me) is a kind of mantra. When he sings it, he reminds himself that keeping something which he feels is truly important inside can never work, and that it is better to simply vocalize your thoughts.