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.
My head is heavy and bent like a crane
The wrecking ball blues are coming again
And Latham says, "Babe, you know life is a ride"
But living's no fun when you're dead inside
I pierce myself to wake up my veins
I'd pierce my heart if I thought things would change
But I'm just like the skin that's been stung and restung
And the campfire songs that are sung and resung
For a girl of my age why am I so numb?
I've been chasing a lie I was sold
Running down thieves and fool's gold
And these Christmas dreams are just painted coal
I've been swallowed up by greed. I've been spat upon by lust
If they ain't playing with your money they're playing with your trust
And I'm trying so hard to stop sitting still
To gather the juice that's been spent or been spilled
To find a spark in myself that hasn't been killed
Cause if Death doesn't get you then Life surely will
I've been chasing a lie I was sold
Running down thieves and fool's gold
And these Christmas dreams are just painted coal
We've been chasing a lie we were sold
We're runnig down thieves and fool's gold
And these Christmas dreams are just painted, just painted
Just painted, just painted
Coal
The wrecking ball blues are coming again
And Latham says, "Babe, you know life is a ride"
But living's no fun when you're dead inside
I pierce myself to wake up my veins
I'd pierce my heart if I thought things would change
But I'm just like the skin that's been stung and restung
And the campfire songs that are sung and resung
For a girl of my age why am I so numb?
I've been chasing a lie I was sold
Running down thieves and fool's gold
And these Christmas dreams are just painted coal
I've been swallowed up by greed. I've been spat upon by lust
If they ain't playing with your money they're playing with your trust
And I'm trying so hard to stop sitting still
To gather the juice that's been spent or been spilled
To find a spark in myself that hasn't been killed
Cause if Death doesn't get you then Life surely will
I've been chasing a lie I was sold
Running down thieves and fool's gold
And these Christmas dreams are just painted coal
We've been chasing a lie we were sold
We're runnig down thieves and fool's gold
And these Christmas dreams are just painted, just painted
Just painted, just painted
Coal
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Page
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I think this particular paragraph in particular is about getting out of the funk that we all get in and actually doing something meaningful for the world before we die of wallowing in our own self pity:
"I'm trying so hard to stop sitting still To gather the juice that's been spent or been spilled To find a spark in myself that hasn't been killed Cause if death doesn't get you then life surely will"