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 pain told you to take her
Well I learned to accept that feeling
'Cause I found how to numb it
If only for just a short while
I'd get so high I'd forget my name
I scarred my fists. I scarred my train
I think that I'm going insane
I think that I'm going insane
So drink up, so shoot in
Why must this feeling end
I crawled in my narcotic shell
Was crucified in my own hell
A gutter's where I found myself
Among the waste I chose to well
I chose to dwell
So now I'm in your system
And I'm what helps you numb your pain
Whit time you will confide in me
So lonely my friend. I've made you lose control
You'll use me more and more with time
Our friendship grows with each mainline
So glad that you could be so blind
So glad that you could be so blind
So drink up, so shoot in
'Cause I'll make this feeling end
I built you this narcotic shell
I crucified you in your hell
Your life not yours, you're just my slave
I am your messiah of pain
And time has come to
Time has come to time has come to
There's no time to pray
'Cause I'm your God now
Well I learned to accept that feeling
'Cause I found how to numb it
If only for just a short while
I'd get so high I'd forget my name
I scarred my fists. I scarred my train
I think that I'm going insane
I think that I'm going insane
So drink up, so shoot in
Why must this feeling end
I crawled in my narcotic shell
Was crucified in my own hell
A gutter's where I found myself
Among the waste I chose to well
I chose to dwell
So now I'm in your system
And I'm what helps you numb your pain
Whit time you will confide in me
So lonely my friend. I've made you lose control
You'll use me more and more with time
Our friendship grows with each mainline
So glad that you could be so blind
So glad that you could be so blind
So drink up, so shoot in
'Cause I'll make this feeling end
I built you this narcotic shell
I crucified you in your hell
Your life not yours, you're just my slave
I am your messiah of pain
And time has come to
Time has come to time has come to
There's no time to pray
'Cause I'm your God now
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Light Up The Sky
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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\m/
The song is obviously about drug addiction, it seems like rob and the boys are pretty experienced with dope...not that there is anything wrong with that
haha, they are experienced with more than dope...
Machine head owns all
Hail, oldschool Machine Head
Well in the liner notes, it says it's dedicated to Jimmy Lapin, so he must've died from a drug overdose. The first verse is from his POV, and the second is the drugs talkin'.
Best MH song right here
It's about Rob's heroin addiction, just like some other song off Supercharger. H is one hell of a drug, stay away from it;)
Only the Names
The song is not always about the singer. But yea Blastdude is right.
I love in the live version: 'London... Are you happy ot be alive?' Fuckin brilliant.
This is a really good song. Its about drug addiction.