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.
And in my lonely hour weekend
I'm feeling stop, stop the hook
I swear, all these things I might be guilty of
Just came to happen on the road I took
I don't know why I took this turn
And it made me love her
Right from the night when we were born and
And all the stars they were a-falling
Like from the night I had this calling
Yeaaah right
And I know only where it started
On a cold and lonely highway
Well, my arms were reaching
Into the land beyond
I saw the stars south in the night
And a million winding roads
And heavy horses of the moving on the wind and
And all the time that they would pull, pull, run boy
I enjoy the sickness of my heart
And I tread up a trail that lead along the frozen highway
My head was numb and I was starved
But right from the start, I had this calling
Yeaaah
Oh I don't know why I took this turn
Well I know that I must burn
But I ain't sorry for the road I took oh
But the holy books are open wide and I'll be forgiven
There's something in there, that keeps on pulling me apart
I have stood beneath the sky, well it sickened riding high
My hands forever stained with blood and I couldn't feel my body moving
And from inside I felt this pull, ooooh this pull
And al-alright
I'm feeling stop, stop the hook
I swear, all these things I might be guilty of
Just came to happen on the road I took
I don't know why I took this turn
And it made me love her
Right from the night when we were born and
And all the stars they were a-falling
Like from the night I had this calling
Yeaaah right
And I know only where it started
On a cold and lonely highway
Well, my arms were reaching
Into the land beyond
I saw the stars south in the night
And a million winding roads
And heavy horses of the moving on the wind and
And all the time that they would pull, pull, run boy
I enjoy the sickness of my heart
And I tread up a trail that lead along the frozen highway
My head was numb and I was starved
But right from the start, I had this calling
Yeaaah
Oh I don't know why I took this turn
Well I know that I must burn
But I ain't sorry for the road I took oh
But the holy books are open wide and I'll be forgiven
There's something in there, that keeps on pulling me apart
I have stood beneath the sky, well it sickened riding high
My hands forever stained with blood and I couldn't feel my body moving
And from inside I felt this pull, ooooh this pull
And al-alright
Lyrics submitted by Moondragon
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.