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 in my shoes runs a lier, and all the papers lie tonight
that falling over you is the news of the day.
The angels fall like rain,
and your love is all of heaven away
Inside you time moves and she don't fade,
The ghost in you, she don't fade.
The race is on I'm on your side, but hearing you my engines die,
I'm in the mood for you, for running away
Oh the stars come down in you
And love, love, love, can't give it away
Inside you the time moves and she don't fade away
The ghost in you, she don't fade.
So don't you go, cause it makes no sense
and all these talking supermen
just take away the time, just to get it away
Ain't it just like the rain
Cause love, love, love, love, is only heaven away
Inside you the time moves, and she don't fade
The ghost in you, she don't fade away
Inside you the time moves, and she don't fade
The ghost in you, she don't fade away.
The man in my shoes runs a lier, and all the papers lie tonight
That falling over you is the news of the day.
And love, will not fade
And love, love, love, will not fade away.
that falling over you is the news of the day.
The angels fall like rain,
and your love is all of heaven away
Inside you time moves and she don't fade,
The ghost in you, she don't fade.
The race is on I'm on your side, but hearing you my engines die,
I'm in the mood for you, for running away
Oh the stars come down in you
And love, love, love, can't give it away
Inside you the time moves and she don't fade away
The ghost in you, she don't fade.
So don't you go, cause it makes no sense
and all these talking supermen
just take away the time, just to get it away
Ain't it just like the rain
Cause love, love, love, love, is only heaven away
Inside you the time moves, and she don't fade
The ghost in you, she don't fade away
Inside you the time moves, and she don't fade
The ghost in you, she don't fade away.
The man in my shoes runs a lier, and all the papers lie tonight
That falling over you is the news of the day.
And love, will not fade
And love, love, love, will not fade away.
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Hmm... I have a new take on this song. At first I always thought it was just someone who lost a love, but now I think there is more to it. I think the singer got his heart broke by this girl that said she loved him and all that, but never truly did. Now this girl is doing the same thing to another guy. So the singer is telling this other guy not to get involved. The two were once in the same situation, hence 'man in my shoes.' He runs the light, he is happy, walking on air and he's like a newspaper, he is telling the world that she loves him. Its the news of the day because tomorrow it will be different.
The next stanza... well pretty much he says he is in the mood to talk to the guy. He's trying to talk him out of loving this girl because she won't love him back. "Love... you can't give it away." They are racing against time, he's falling in love and soon it will be too late before the guy gets hurt. The singer's 'engines die' because the guy is arguing with him and not listening. So the singer tells the guy that she will get inside of him and like a ghost she will haunt him forever.
Next stanza the guy is still arguing, he thinks that he is superman and that he will be different. That the girl will really love him.
The love is all of heaven away just means that the guy is dreaming. Real love with her is further than he'll get in a lifetime.
wow. Great interpretation .. Thats really good. I saw it as the way the first few commenters did, but this is a great take on it as well... thanks