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.
He smiled to the world
But his heart fell below his pain
He wanted only arms
But he lied to himself again
Closing doors and locking locks
He looked inside himself
Only to find
Seeping from his soul
Let me fall in two
Wide as a river and spread as thin
What it could start and no one would finish
Bottled up frowning treaties or what they would
Knowing not nothing he was the only son
Closing doors and locking locks
He looked inside himself
Only to find
Seeping from his soul
Let me fall in two
Let me fall in two
What are you running from?
He finds himself away
Only have to make the world come find you
Try to leave but there is nothing he can do
Downcast eyes scrutinize
As to what the lead ball hummingbird could not succumb
To find what is gone you must burn what is dried
And smell the essence of what remains inside
And blackened thoughts erase all that is past
Before him not knowing where it’s coming
So you shake him around and scream into his eyes
That to drown in the water is to lie by his side
Closing doors and locking locks
He looked inside himself
Only to find
Seeping from his soul
Let me fall in two
But his heart fell below his pain
He wanted only arms
But he lied to himself again
Closing doors and locking locks
He looked inside himself
Only to find
Seeping from his soul
Let me fall in two
Wide as a river and spread as thin
What it could start and no one would finish
Bottled up frowning treaties or what they would
Knowing not nothing he was the only son
Closing doors and locking locks
He looked inside himself
Only to find
Seeping from his soul
Let me fall in two
Let me fall in two
What are you running from?
He finds himself away
Only have to make the world come find you
Try to leave but there is nothing he can do
Downcast eyes scrutinize
As to what the lead ball hummingbird could not succumb
To find what is gone you must burn what is dried
And smell the essence of what remains inside
And blackened thoughts erase all that is past
Before him not knowing where it’s coming
So you shake him around and scream into his eyes
That to drown in the water is to lie by his side
Closing doors and locking locks
He looked inside himself
Only to find
Seeping from his soul
Let me fall in two
Lyrics submitted by PLANES
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i cant believe no one commented on this song!!!! where are all you guster fans?? ahh...umm yea the lyrics to this song are gorgeous!! i think it's basically about someone who's life is worthless to them. their past haunts them over and over but they hide it all from the world. i think a lot of people can relate to this song..
The lyrics "That to drown in the water is to lie by his side" to me is a reference to baptism. When you are baptised you lie by God's side. Also in the song pantamonie which Guster even says is about christianity they sing about drowning in water. Which is a symbol towards baptism. Even though their Jewish alot of their songs are towards the Christian religion.
heres my thought: A guy is torn up inside whether to come clean with the 'skeletons in his closet' or to just continue smiling and hiding it all. The battle is seen, as the back and forth 'Let me Fall In To' vs. 'What are you running from'...two voices inside telling him what to do...and then onto, 'to fall in the water is to lie by his side'--he is aware of the right and wrong, but cant decide what to do...good stuff.