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.
So much that I can't say to you
My voice shakes from the hurt that I hide
Ashamed of my existence
And of my petty often wounded pride
I'd like to come home to see you
And to catch your sickness by the bedside
But then you'd know how much I really need you
All the love in an instant
Makes my life stop
But then my hate for you
Makes my feelings altogether drop
If only I were blind to your selfish fling
And your desperate cause
And didn't press you for the details
That threaten my physical flaws
I'd like to come home to see you
And embrace your illness under soft light
But then you'd know how much I really need you
All the love in an instant
Makes my life stop
But then my hate for you
Makes my feelings altogether drop
So much that I can say to you
With affection that I burn inside
You're aching from the distance
Avoiding strain that's running still alive
If only I could heal you
In the sprinkling of the ocean side
But then you'd know how much I really love you
All the love in an instant
Makes my life stop
But then my hate for you
Makes my feelings altogether drop
My voice shakes from the hurt that I hide
Ashamed of my existence
And of my petty often wounded pride
I'd like to come home to see you
And to catch your sickness by the bedside
But then you'd know how much I really need you
All the love in an instant
Makes my life stop
But then my hate for you
Makes my feelings altogether drop
If only I were blind to your selfish fling
And your desperate cause
And didn't press you for the details
That threaten my physical flaws
I'd like to come home to see you
And embrace your illness under soft light
But then you'd know how much I really need you
All the love in an instant
Makes my life stop
But then my hate for you
Makes my feelings altogether drop
So much that I can say to you
With affection that I burn inside
You're aching from the distance
Avoiding strain that's running still alive
If only I could heal you
In the sprinkling of the ocean side
But then you'd know how much I really love you
All the love in an instant
Makes my life stop
But then my hate for you
Makes my feelings altogether drop
Lyrics submitted by ThreeMilesDown
Drop Lyrics as written by Mark Edward Kozelek
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I have always wondered what happened to this man to give him this kind of lyrical power. Kozelek is always so dauntingly honest, his music a mirror reflection to his own life in many ways.
I think this is a song about a person who seems beautiful when they're fragile. But in reality you know they are an ugly, vindictive person. Then you see them lying in a hospital bed, and you realize how much you love them. It's one of those 'You don't know what you have until it's left you' kind of things, I think.