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.
A man lies in his bed in a room with no door
He waits hoping for a presence something anything to enter
After spending half his life searching he still felt as blank
As the ceiling at which he stared
He is alive but feels absolutely nothing
So is he?
When he was six he believed that the moon overhead followed him
By nine he had deciphered the illusion trading magic for fact
No tradebacks...
So this is what it's like to be an adult
If he only knew now what he knew then...
I'm open... (2x)
Come on in... (4x)
I'm open... (2x)
Come on in... (4x)
I'm open...
Lying sideways atop crumpled sheets and no covers he decides to
Dream...
Dream up a new self for himself...
He waits hoping for a presence something anything to enter
After spending half his life searching he still felt as blank
As the ceiling at which he stared
He is alive but feels absolutely nothing
So is he?
When he was six he believed that the moon overhead followed him
By nine he had deciphered the illusion trading magic for fact
No tradebacks...
So this is what it's like to be an adult
If he only knew now what he knew then...
I'm open... (2x)
Come on in... (4x)
I'm open... (2x)
Come on in... (4x)
I'm open...
Lying sideways atop crumpled sheets and no covers he decides to
Dream...
Dream up a new self for himself...
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Very beautiful........the progression from child to adult.
Yep.<br /> <br /> I think his picking things which you've gotta say, at some point, you remember expereiencing, like the moon following you just lets you in a little more of the ethos of eddie.<br /> <br /> No tradebacks.<br /> The reality of adulthood - how nice.<br /> <br /> And then 'if he only knew now, what he knew then'<br /> <br /> Epic line - sounds so obscure, but just right.<br /> <br /> The last two lines are, kind of, galvanising, in the sense that it's such a lifeless atmosphere, but his mind is hugely active, reforming who he is into a better person, more experienced, but then i guess, burdoned with the awareness of how the world is.
one of the best pearl jam songs for me. i love eddies voice so much on this song and to me its basically openig up to who you are hiding from in yourself.
Eddie Is such a wonderful spoken word poet,... seriosuly if you listen to this song in your sleep it will give you some freaky dreams,.... nah just kidding.
Alot of people would consider a song like this to be filler but I believe that it is one of those tracks that need to be included almost like a hidden track where there is no other way to convey the message,... it is a great song from what is obviously my favorite album. ;)
awesome song. Very Jim Morrison-like poetry at the beginning.
I noticed that, too! Reminds me a little of 'Ghost Song'.
i listened to this song ten times the first time i heard no code, eddie is a genious
its the most underrated because people wore used to the pearl jam from ten,vs,vitalogy, all depressing albums, and pj comes out with this uplifting first single in who we are, people heard that and didnt buy the album
i think that vitalogy is pearl jam's best album, and is better than vs and a little better than ten, no code, and yield-binaural and riot act are both great albums too that are very underrated but i just think that vitalogy is one of the best cds ever
eddie is big on including dreaming into his songs, off of the top of my head(there are probably more) eddie dedicates a whole verse to dreaming in this song, sleight of hand(most underrated pj song)and cant keep which is entirely about dreaming. i know there are more too i just cant think of them
Depressing song.. You age and life races you and wins. You try to reinvent yourself but that no longer works... Wow, a really depressing song.
@platus Depressing?? I think it's exactly the opposite!!<br /> It's a description about how, as you age, you build an understanding of the universe which allows you to stand in it. It's an invitation not to reinvent yourself, but to be. Be in the universe.
Did anyone notice that here it says "if he only knew now what he knew then" and on Red Mosquito it says "if I had known then what I know now"? Any connection?
@T-Crash yeah, literally just a few mins before reading your comment, I realised it’s the exact opposite polarity of notion.. as we gain we lose, as we lose we gain, certain states yield for other states to manifest. Multitudinous perceptions & experiences are possible from specific constructs & configurations of consciousness, as they shift, so does our lived reality....Whether incremental, gradual unfolding, or explosive epiphanic paradigm shift awakenings ~ satori!<br /> <br /> He knew something then, that he’s forgotten ~ he has ripened wisdom now, which he wishes could be applied in past events.<br /> <br /> Fucking love the depth & complex conciseness of Eddie’s lyrics!!!
@T-Crash I’m open is the flow of maturation (in certain modern lifestyle context), & the past-tense realisation of loss of innocence, awe, magic & wonder in exchange for intellect, logic & peer congruency which inevitably becomes dry, dull, rigid & stagnant when not balanced ~ leading to the state of zombified numbness...<br /> Then the proclaimed invitation for the, remembrance, refreshing & rectification of this imbalance.<br /> Integration & harmonisation of once familiar instinctual states of flow, with the useful aspects of the learned left brain attributes.<br /> Leading to synthesis & synergism..<br /> Wholistic functioning of being..<br /> Dreams up a new self, for himself...
@T-Crash Red mosquito is more from the view point of adult life, aware of the karmic retributional sting of misconduct & wishing the ability to rectify misaligned doings & deeds of immature or ignorant folly, or missed & messed opportunities, stung by regret.<br /> (Then Presentence addresses the futility & wasting the present moment when wallowing in that state.)