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.
I knew it was far too late to walk out on the lake then
Halfway to the middle thawed I wasn't doing all that great
Had I cut my hair short?
Had I grown my beard out long?
Had I gone to school or?
Why do all my plans fall through?
There's a leak in the basement
Stupid permanent estrangement
Casement windows need glazing
Hinges and arms need be replaced
All the way at the edge I said I think
That we should head back
What if now the ice cracked?
Think I felt it bend
We took opposite steps
Tried to even the stress
Picked a safe direction but
You never know the way the ice thins
Half-asleep in dreams where
Ceilings start collapsing
Free fall through the roof beams
Get startled back awake
Before you hit the pavement
Floor of the foundation
Water in the basement
Bodies in the lake
Don't panic I could hear you saying as I fell through
Blackness complete down waiting till my feet touched ground
At the bottom they finally did
First reaction was this is it
Next thought was just stay calm kick up
And save your phone
Because I wanted to tell you
Because I thought you should know
Because I thought it might scare you
To see me under the ice
Make you remember you cared for me
What would you do if I died?
Would you fly out for my funeral?
Get too drunk at my wake?
Would you make a scene then?
Climb in and try to resuscitate me?
I was on the ice and I was underwater
I was getting pulled out, I was in my wet clothes
Stumble on the walk back, someone stoked the fire at camp
I was by the flames trying to get my body warm
I was standing naked checking to see if my phone still worked
I will cut my hair short
Trust me, I will
I will let my beard go
Trust me, I will
I will never tempt fate
Not once, I swear
I will never trust ice
I will never trust a thing
Halfway to the middle thawed I wasn't doing all that great
Had I cut my hair short?
Had I grown my beard out long?
Had I gone to school or?
Why do all my plans fall through?
There's a leak in the basement
Stupid permanent estrangement
Casement windows need glazing
Hinges and arms need be replaced
All the way at the edge I said I think
That we should head back
What if now the ice cracked?
Think I felt it bend
We took opposite steps
Tried to even the stress
Picked a safe direction but
You never know the way the ice thins
Half-asleep in dreams where
Ceilings start collapsing
Free fall through the roof beams
Get startled back awake
Before you hit the pavement
Floor of the foundation
Water in the basement
Bodies in the lake
Don't panic I could hear you saying as I fell through
Blackness complete down waiting till my feet touched ground
At the bottom they finally did
First reaction was this is it
Next thought was just stay calm kick up
And save your phone
Because I wanted to tell you
Because I thought you should know
Because I thought it might scare you
To see me under the ice
Make you remember you cared for me
What would you do if I died?
Would you fly out for my funeral?
Get too drunk at my wake?
Would you make a scene then?
Climb in and try to resuscitate me?
I was on the ice and I was underwater
I was getting pulled out, I was in my wet clothes
Stumble on the walk back, someone stoked the fire at camp
I was by the flames trying to get my body warm
I was standing naked checking to see if my phone still worked
I will cut my hair short
Trust me, I will
I will let my beard go
Trust me, I will
I will never tempt fate
Not once, I swear
I will never trust ice
I will never trust a thing
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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
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Dreamwalker
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
One of the two (First Reactions & THE CHILD WE LOST) left field songs on the album I think - that aren't really related to the main storyline except for relations emotionally and mentally, ie:
"We took opposite steps Tried to even the stress Picked a safe direction but You never know the way the ice thins" Kind of like what two people in a marriage would do (metaphorically of course). They tried to level the stress in the marriage and it failed.
Crazy emotional song though and very cool concept.