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.
The rise and fall of my sloppy love, The smatterings, and splatterings,
They'll get you.
I'm not the one you were thinking of,
Maybe you thought I'd call, Instead of crashing down your hall.
Hold me down, but I'll find out.
You know you will never get what you need,
Blue Diamond strike 'em anywhere,
First we caffeinate, then incinerate,
We'll get you.
And sparks will fly in the summer air,
Did you pull out of your stall,
Maybe I'll see you after all.
Say we don't. Know who we are. We say no,
I live my life like the burning man,
Like a burning man,
Like a burning man,
And I won't get enough 'Till my legs are broken,
The stars they shine. In an empty void.
Life is not to fear, life is to enjoy,
He'll get you.
Mr. Death catches all someday.
Baby I thought you'd call.
Or leave a light on in the hall,
Hold me down, But I'll find out. We say no,
I live my life like a burning man,
And I won't get enough,
till my legs are broken.
They'll get you.
I'm not the one you were thinking of,
Maybe you thought I'd call, Instead of crashing down your hall.
Hold me down, but I'll find out.
You know you will never get what you need,
Blue Diamond strike 'em anywhere,
First we caffeinate, then incinerate,
We'll get you.
And sparks will fly in the summer air,
Did you pull out of your stall,
Maybe I'll see you after all.
Say we don't. Know who we are. We say no,
I live my life like the burning man,
Like a burning man,
Like a burning man,
And I won't get enough 'Till my legs are broken,
The stars they shine. In an empty void.
Life is not to fear, life is to enjoy,
He'll get you.
Mr. Death catches all someday.
Baby I thought you'd call.
Or leave a light on in the hall,
Hold me down, But I'll find out. We say no,
I live my life like a burning man,
And I won't get enough,
till my legs are broken.
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
Burning Man Lyrics as written by Kevin Cadogan Arion Salazar
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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.”
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.
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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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.
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You can't judge anything from from what he says in concert. Stephen has a habit of making himself and his material shallow for the masses at concerts; trust me, I've seen them several times. He introduces Motorcycle Driveby as being about "a girl who dumped me, on my skinny white ass" harharhar. We know there's more to it than that. Same with 'Forget Myself' - "This is a song about how I was BAAAD, last summer." Riiight. It may also convey powerful messages that just about anyone can relate to but we aren't going to talk about those, no no.
All I'm trying to say is that he likes to project a bad-ass image of himself and his music, but alot of it is pretense. Most everything he writes is very personal to him, he just doesn't like to get all poetic when he's trying to keep a stadium full of cheering people happy.
So I stick by my interpretation of the song. Stephen may love women, but he's anything but shallow... he's at heart just a real emotional guy, and a genius lyricist.