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 sit and pick my brain each night
With an axe in my hand held tight
Bite my nose to spite my face
Killing myself, I can't escape the rat race
Wallowing in neck-deep misery
Quicksand dissent, pressure free
Deepest wounds are self inflicted
Should I hope to be vindicated
Always alone, society's abortion
Self mutilation, the daily partion
Resentful past breeds hopeful future
With tears of blood, I remove the sutures
Dying inside, emotions they hide
Irreparable damage from the tears that I've cried
I climb from the sewer, the years that I have
spent
Self mutilation or my environment
[Chorus: Repeat x2]
Tears of blood, tears of blood
I cry, I cry
Tears of blood, tears of blood
I die
Deny myself for fear of being
Is it over now, has my heart stopped beating
Lying here just self defeating
My mind is empty, it won't stop bleeding
Twisted anger screams my brain
Over the edge, I hang in pain
Mouth locked shut my mind won't swallow
With tears of blood alone I wallow
No one to blame except myself
What you call masochism I call wealth
Maybe its just a matter of pride
Too sweet to end with suicide
Peel the scab, pour salt in the wound
Torturing myself, I'm forever doomed
Looking east and west each and every moon
A peaceful rest comes somebody soon
No one to blame expect myself
What you call masochism I call wealth
Is death life and do we live in hell?
[Chorus: Repeat x3]
With an axe in my hand held tight
Bite my nose to spite my face
Killing myself, I can't escape the rat race
Wallowing in neck-deep misery
Quicksand dissent, pressure free
Deepest wounds are self inflicted
Should I hope to be vindicated
Always alone, society's abortion
Self mutilation, the daily partion
Resentful past breeds hopeful future
With tears of blood, I remove the sutures
Dying inside, emotions they hide
Irreparable damage from the tears that I've cried
I climb from the sewer, the years that I have
spent
Self mutilation or my environment
[Chorus: Repeat x2]
Tears of blood, tears of blood
I cry, I cry
Tears of blood, tears of blood
I die
Deny myself for fear of being
Is it over now, has my heart stopped beating
Lying here just self defeating
My mind is empty, it won't stop bleeding
Twisted anger screams my brain
Over the edge, I hang in pain
Mouth locked shut my mind won't swallow
With tears of blood alone I wallow
No one to blame except myself
What you call masochism I call wealth
Maybe its just a matter of pride
Too sweet to end with suicide
Peel the scab, pour salt in the wound
Torturing myself, I'm forever doomed
Looking east and west each and every moon
A peaceful rest comes somebody soon
No one to blame expect myself
What you call masochism I call wealth
Is death life and do we live in hell?
[Chorus: Repeat x3]
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
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.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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tears of blood are tears from past. tears of blood are tears from guilt, tears to get out. we live in life. we go to heaven/hell. wichever one, we still must go through life. u must resolve ur own problems to get by life. u must love urself to love life. life can be everything u ever wanted, but so can heaven. God is always there, hand on ur shoulder even if u do not believe in him. he is the only one who is always there. to feel guilt forever is to waste ur own life. forget u are forgiven.
guilt is the only punishment, so move on.
inked in blood by ur tears of blood