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 wanted so badly
Somebody other than me
Staring back at me
But you were gone
I wanted to see you walking backwards
And get the sensation of you coming home
I wanted to see you walking away from me
Without the sensation of you leaving me alone
Time and time again
Time and time again
Time and time again
I can't please myself
I wanted the ocean to cover over me
I want to sink slowly without getting wet
Maybe someday, I won't be so lonely
And I'll walk on water every chance I get
Time and time again
Time and time again
Time and time again
I can't please myself
So when are you coming home
Sweet angel?
You leaving me alone?
All alone?
Well, if I'm drowning darling, you'll come down this way on your own
I wish I was traveling on a freeway
Beneath this graveyard western sky
I'm gonna set fire to this city
And out into the desert
we're gonna ride
Time and time again
Time and time again
Time and time again
I can't please myself
Somebody other than me
Staring back at me
But you were gone
I wanted to see you walking backwards
And get the sensation of you coming home
I wanted to see you walking away from me
Without the sensation of you leaving me alone
Time and time again
Time and time again
Time and time again
I can't please myself
I wanted the ocean to cover over me
I want to sink slowly without getting wet
Maybe someday, I won't be so lonely
And I'll walk on water every chance I get
Time and time again
Time and time again
Time and time again
I can't please myself
So when are you coming home
Sweet angel?
You leaving me alone?
All alone?
Well, if I'm drowning darling, you'll come down this way on your own
I wish I was traveling on a freeway
Beneath this graveyard western sky
I'm gonna set fire to this city
And out into the desert
we're gonna ride
Time and time again
Time and time again
Time and time again
I can't please myself
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"I wanted to see you walking backwards And get the sensation of you coming home I wanted to see you walking away from me Without the sensation of you leaving me alone"
Those lyrics are some of the cleverest lyrics I've ever heard. My boyfriend says it's gibberish. I could hit him with a spanner sometimes. The walking backwards to imply coming home obviously means the person who's being talked about has already left. If the person walked away without the sensation that they were leaving him alone it would mean they intended on coming back - which above all else is what is desired.
My boyfriend is still caught on the imagery of 'walking backwards' and thinks it's silly.
growls