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.
Somewhere out on the one-on-one
A little miss lights the streets with her cigarettes and she
Has probably got a boyfriend, or an ex
Or something in between
She'll probably move to LA
Write a book on how she drowned like a pill with the rest of 'em
Are we all just treading water here?
Are we all just treading water here?
And there must be a little. . .
Ashley in all of us
Is a little old for the holiday now
And he said: "I know there's a place for us,
And anywhere will do
'Cause you're not that particular."
Somewhere out on a desert land
Another line draws deep in the face of a man
He's probably got the key to the world
Buried lonely in the sand
He'll probably end up in chains
Not till the day that he never could say
He's in love
Are we all just treading water here?
Said, are we all just treading water here?
And there must be a little. . .
Ashley in all of us
Is a little old for the holiday now
And he said: "I know there's a place for us,
And anywhere will do,
'Cause you're not that particular."
It's been about two weeks now since that phone call
Don't say you've come to call
It's not about the spotlight here, and we both know
That the sun don't shine for just anyone
It's somewhere close to the end
Another life leaves quietly and all you can say
Is "Never mind,
'Cause it's too late anyway."
I must have knew you in paradise
Your appetite for desire has left you
Starving
Are we all just treading water here?
Said, are we all just treading water here?
And there must be a little. . .
Ashley in all of us
Is a little old for the holiday now
And he said: "I know there's a place for us,
And anywhere will do.
Anywhere will do."
And there must be a little bit of
Ashley in all of us
Is a little old for the holiday now
And he said: "I know there's a place for us,
Anywhere will do,
Anywhere will do.
Anywhere,
Anywhere,
And anywhere will do,
'Cause you're not that particular."
A little miss lights the streets with her cigarettes and she
Has probably got a boyfriend, or an ex
Or something in between
She'll probably move to LA
Write a book on how she drowned like a pill with the rest of 'em
Are we all just treading water here?
Are we all just treading water here?
And there must be a little. . .
Ashley in all of us
Is a little old for the holiday now
And he said: "I know there's a place for us,
And anywhere will do
'Cause you're not that particular."
Somewhere out on a desert land
Another line draws deep in the face of a man
He's probably got the key to the world
Buried lonely in the sand
He'll probably end up in chains
Not till the day that he never could say
He's in love
Are we all just treading water here?
Said, are we all just treading water here?
And there must be a little. . .
Ashley in all of us
Is a little old for the holiday now
And he said: "I know there's a place for us,
And anywhere will do,
'Cause you're not that particular."
It's been about two weeks now since that phone call
Don't say you've come to call
It's not about the spotlight here, and we both know
That the sun don't shine for just anyone
It's somewhere close to the end
Another life leaves quietly and all you can say
Is "Never mind,
'Cause it's too late anyway."
I must have knew you in paradise
Your appetite for desire has left you
Starving
Are we all just treading water here?
Said, are we all just treading water here?
And there must be a little. . .
Ashley in all of us
Is a little old for the holiday now
And he said: "I know there's a place for us,
And anywhere will do.
Anywhere will do."
And there must be a little bit of
Ashley in all of us
Is a little old for the holiday now
And he said: "I know there's a place for us,
Anywhere will do,
Anywhere will do.
Anywhere,
Anywhere,
And anywhere will do,
'Cause you're not that particular."
Lyrics submitted by CallMeCali
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
This song, believe it or not, is actually about hiding who you are, specifically your sexuality, and becoming a mold to society:
Somewhere out on the one-on-one A little miss lights the streets with her cigarettes and she Has probably got a boyfriend, or an ex Or something in between She'll probably move to LA Write a book on how she drowned like a pill with the rest of 'em
*This girl is becoming a mold to society. She has a boyfriend, or an ex, or something, but she doesn't really love that person.
Are we all just treading water here? Are we all just treading water here? And there must be a little. . .
*So, this is asking whether or not you can see that we were born originals and dying copies, and why isn't someone standing up to change the world?
Ashley in all of us Is a little old for the holiday now And he said: "I know there's a place for us, And anywhere will do 'Cause you're not that particular."
*The reference to 'Ashley' is probably a reference to someone that either Clayton or Scott met, who was the one who asked them if they were treading water, so to speak.
Somewhere out on a desert land Another line draws deep in the face of a man He's probably got the key to the world Buried lonely in the sand He'll probably end up in chains Not till the day that he never could say He's in love
*This is about a hard-working man, who is in love with someone he shouldn't be in love with, but he doesn't say so, because people think that he has the key to the world. This might be another reference to 'Ashley'
Are we all just treading water here? Said, are we all just treading water here? And there must be a little. . .
Ashley in all of us Is a little old for the holiday now And he said: "I know there's a place for us, And anywhere will do, 'Cause you're not that particular."
It's been about two weeks now since that phone call Don't say you've come to call It's not about the spotlight here, and we both know That the sun don't shine for just anyone
It's somewhere close to the end Another life leaves quietly and all you can say Is "Never mind, 'Cause it's too late anyway."
I must have knew you in paradise Your appetite for desire has left you Starving
*This is about giving up hope on waiting for someone to see the world differently, and right as you leave, they do, and the singer wants them to realise that life happens, and it isn't all that great for everyone. The next part is about how they only care for themselves, and the final part is about how they only care for their desires and no-one else's.
Are we all just treading water here? Said, are we all just treading water here? And there must be a little. . .
Ashley in all of us Is a little old for the holiday now And he said: "I know there's a place for us, And anywhere will do. Anywhere will do."
And there must be a little bit of Ashley in all of us Is a little old for the holiday now And he said: "I know there's a place for us, Anywhere will do, Anywhere will do. Anywhere, Anywhere, And anywhere will do, 'Cause you're not that particular."