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.
With my ego in my gut
My babbling mouth would wash it up
(But now I've started learning how)
I keep it shut
My door was never locked
Until one day a trigger come, cocking
(But now I've started learning how)
I keep it shut
Wide eyes would clean and dust
Things that decay, things that rust
(But now I've started learning how)
I keep 'em shut
I keep 'em shut
Harm is in us
Harm is in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
("Leave it open!")
Harm is in us, but power to arm
Narrow mind would persecute it
Die a little to get to it
(But now I've started learning how)
I leave it open
I kept it in a cage
Watched it weeping, but I made it stay
(But now I've started learning how)
I leave it open
I leave it open
Harm is in us
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
("Leave it open!")
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
("Leave it open!")
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
Har in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us [Repeat: x6]
Harm in you and in me!
What you letting in?
Tell me what you're letting in.
Say what we're gonna let in!
"We let the weirdness in.
We let the weirdness in.
We let the weirdness in.
We let the weirdness in.
We let the weirdness in."
My babbling mouth would wash it up
(But now I've started learning how)
I keep it shut
My door was never locked
Until one day a trigger come, cocking
(But now I've started learning how)
I keep it shut
Wide eyes would clean and dust
Things that decay, things that rust
(But now I've started learning how)
I keep 'em shut
I keep 'em shut
Harm is in us
Harm is in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
("Leave it open!")
Harm is in us, but power to arm
Narrow mind would persecute it
Die a little to get to it
(But now I've started learning how)
I leave it open
I kept it in a cage
Watched it weeping, but I made it stay
(But now I've started learning how)
I leave it open
I leave it open
Harm is in us
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
("Leave it open!")
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
("Leave it open!")
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
Harm in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us
Har in us, but power to arm
Harm is in us [Repeat: x6]
Harm in you and in me!
What you letting in?
Tell me what you're letting in.
Say what we're gonna let in!
"We let the weirdness in.
We let the weirdness in.
We let the weirdness in.
We let the weirdness in.
We let the weirdness in."
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
Leave It Open Lyrics as written by Kate Bush
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The first part of Leave It Open seems to tap into the maxim, "Speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil". The protagonist has learned to keep her mouth shut, her ears closed, and her eyes wide shut.
"See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" is also present in the video for Sat In Your Lap. At 2:29-37, KaTe plays with 'see no evil', and the two jokers behind her play with 'hear no evil' and 'speak no evil'. So maybe Kate is after forbidden knowledge, the knowledge of the alchemist, the initiate, the angels, the devils!
The phrase, "Leave It Open", also suggests the advice her Doctor or Nurse might have given regarding a wound. Leave it open and let fresh air dry and heal... It seems that part of herself is weeping, festering, going crazy; and she must learn to Leave It Open; to channel emotions into creativity rather than self-harming destructivity (addictions, psychoses, paranoias, phobias, etc.) so that she can begin to heal her emotional self.
"Harm in us...": This brings to mind Thanatos, a primitive impulse for destruction, decay, and death, postulated by Sigmund Freud as coexisting with and opposing the life instinct, Eros. The "Harm in us..." also brings to mind the "I am my enemy Mowing me over" and the "My silly pride Digging the knife in" from Fullhouse. "Harm in us" also suggests fearing the harmful intentions of others.
"but power to arm...": And this brings to mind Sat In Your Lap, Gurdjieff and Jesu, and the knowledge quest. Through philosophy, psychology, art, the paranormal, etc. we find the power to arm against the harm...