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 will be waiting
With a song in my soul
A fortunate weakling
Which I have foretold
He raises his arms tied
Above the oppressed
Singing his sweet song
His melody opens up the sun
Freedom rain
God has come
The rivers of blood
Pushed back in my veins
She sleeps with her eyes closed
To dream of the past
Her mind has gone blind now
While her memory closes up the sun
Freedom rain
God has come
The rivers of blood
Pushed back in my veins
I will be waiting
With a song in my soul
I will be waiting
With a song in my soul
His melody opens up the sun
Freedom rain
God has come
The rivers of blood
Opens up the sun
Freedom rain
God has come
The rivers of blood
The rivers of blood
With a song in my soul
A fortunate weakling
Which I have foretold
He raises his arms tied
Above the oppressed
Singing his sweet song
His melody opens up the sun
Freedom rain
God has come
The rivers of blood
Pushed back in my veins
She sleeps with her eyes closed
To dream of the past
Her mind has gone blind now
While her memory closes up the sun
Freedom rain
God has come
The rivers of blood
Pushed back in my veins
I will be waiting
With a song in my soul
I will be waiting
With a song in my soul
His melody opens up the sun
Freedom rain
God has come
The rivers of blood
Opens up the sun
Freedom rain
God has come
The rivers of blood
The rivers of blood
Lyrics submitted by j o r d a n 2 0 0 4
Soul Song Lyrics as written by Bobby Benish Chester Bennington
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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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.”
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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He's waiting for somethin......i don't know exactly what, but he's getting quite prepared for it. Well anyway, grey daze rulz!
Quite prepared, indeed! Could he possibly be waiting for Salvation from Christ? Then again, ahhh... What would I know? I'm an athiest.
-Mariah
But, it does show some strong signs pointing to God. Besides mentioning his name twice.
Sorry for the second post. Annoying, I'm quite aware.
He raises his arms tied, Above the opressed Singing his sweet song, His melody opens up the sun
D'you think this part could be about Christ?
Definately about Christ, but I highly doubt chester is christian.
I think its about suicide...
"Freedom rained God has come With the rivers of blood Pushed back in my veins"
i love this song so much!!!
I believe this song is about an execution taking place. The man's arms are tied and he knows what the future holds for him.
I believe this song is about an execution taking place. The man's arms are tied and he knows what the future holds for him.
i think its about injecting heroin... raises his arms tied maybe discribes when heroin users tie their arm. rivers of blood pushed back in my veins maybe describes when they hit a vein and blood shoots up into the syringe after which they push it back along with the heroin. dunno. just a guess
The song isn’t about religion of any sort. Chester was atheist. \n\nThere’s a deep meaning here, but it’s dark. More like the release that comes with death.
A who's battled addiction & depression, this song (to me) is about someone realizing that being successful doesn't remove those obstacles from your path. It's not about God even tho he's mentioned. "A fortunate weakling which I have foretold" is saying that the money and the fame won't make you stronger and in the back of your mind, you've always known that it won't make you stronger, happier, healthier... , it just makes you a fortunate weakling