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.
Breathing an air
Permeated, soaked in darkness
Emanating from within
Resonating like a scream no one can hear
I wear this chaos well
Though none should save me
Desperation keeps me here
My need for innocence
The place where I began
The abyss becomes me
I wear this chaos well
Are these not words of heresy?
A venom on my lips, a poison?
My spirit impurified
In everything I choose to say
With you I stand in hope
That God will save us from ourselves
Every cry a wasted moment
Until another day is lost
Even lands we once called home
Lie undiscovered and unknown
Only heaven's silence for an answer
And did our laughter, did our tears
Have some purpose after all?
Did we toil in vain in hope
That wisdom came from what we'd done?
Even lands we once called home
Lie undiscovered and unknown
Only heaven's silence for an answer
Are these not words of heresy?
A venom on my lips, a poison?
My spirit impurified
In everything I choose to say
If I would shed my skin, the layers left
But not the lessons learned
It would not undo what I have done
Or grant forgiveness in some better days
With you I stand in hope
That God will save us from ourselves
Every cry a wasted moment
Until another day is lost
Even lands we once called home
Lie undiscovered and unknown
Only heaven's silence for an answer
And did our laughter, did our tears
Have some purpose after all?
Did we toil in vain in hope
That wisdom came from what we'd done?
Even lands we once called home
Lie undiscovered and unknown
Only heaven's silence for an answer
Permeated, soaked in darkness
Emanating from within
Resonating like a scream no one can hear
I wear this chaos well
Though none should save me
Desperation keeps me here
My need for innocence
The place where I began
The abyss becomes me
I wear this chaos well
Are these not words of heresy?
A venom on my lips, a poison?
My spirit impurified
In everything I choose to say
With you I stand in hope
That God will save us from ourselves
Every cry a wasted moment
Until another day is lost
Even lands we once called home
Lie undiscovered and unknown
Only heaven's silence for an answer
And did our laughter, did our tears
Have some purpose after all?
Did we toil in vain in hope
That wisdom came from what we'd done?
Even lands we once called home
Lie undiscovered and unknown
Only heaven's silence for an answer
Are these not words of heresy?
A venom on my lips, a poison?
My spirit impurified
In everything I choose to say
If I would shed my skin, the layers left
But not the lessons learned
It would not undo what I have done
Or grant forgiveness in some better days
With you I stand in hope
That God will save us from ourselves
Every cry a wasted moment
Until another day is lost
Even lands we once called home
Lie undiscovered and unknown
Only heaven's silence for an answer
And did our laughter, did our tears
Have some purpose after all?
Did we toil in vain in hope
That wisdom came from what we'd done?
Even lands we once called home
Lie undiscovered and unknown
Only heaven's silence for an answer
Lyrics submitted by PraiseTheFallen
Genesis Lyrics as written by Lon Rudolph Binta Manar
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I interpret this as being about how humanity failed to advance into space after all we did in the 20th century. That said, I'm simply a space geek, so you can ignore this.
This song speaks to me of the fact that the true purpose of life is only what we can take with us when we leave it. Technology advances, civilizations grow, but in the end, it's our experiences and what we've learned that justify our existence. "If I would shed my skin, the layers left, but NOT the lessons learned, it would not undo what I have done." Life is not what you accomplish, but what you see along the way. The journey > the destination.
Too me? It means, You've got all but one life to live, live it up so that you can say you accomplished something, rather then saying, "yah, I watched TV when the Football stadium blew up" You could say... "I was next door to the stadium when it blew"
i see it as a choice he asks himself. to beleive in god, or not to beleive. all these things we do to live, all these trials and tribulations. beleive in god,, or to not beleive in god.
Ok, for one thing: It's astronauts... in space.. reading the bible... to techno. contender on those bases for the coolest song ever. For the next, my interpretation. The author alludes to the acceptance of his greivous faults, or accepting the abyss equals heresy. And he states that perchance God will him from his own faults, although that has not happened yet. Coming to terms with a darker side is difficult.
To me, this song doesn't refer to a single person, but to humanity as a whole. "With you I stand in hope that God will save us from ourselves" alludes to the notion that we are a destructive race, yet there's still hope for our redemption. "Did we toil in vain and hope that wisdome came from what we'd done"....With this, he's asking if all of the things we've accomplished, all of the tears shed, all of the suffering and joy we've gone through as a growing species; was it all in vain? The astronauts are an allusion to our accomplishments as human beings.
But of course, with everything we've done so far, it's left us with "only heaven't silence for an answer."
I'm completely in the same vein of thinking as MrMarouka. I think it's more about the reflections of humanity, when all is said and done. It's us looking back and wondering if all we've done was even worth it.
enchiridion, nail on the head with the "coolest song ever" quote. to me, it's all about God, like morphed says, but i think he's saying that he wants to believe, that he wants there to be a god, and not to think that we have not "toiled in vain". but i think eventually it means that Ronan cannot bring himself to believe in anything beyond the world, as we have "only heaven's silence for an answer"... it's a beautiful song, though, whatever it means, and the line "Even lands we once called home, lie undiscovered and unknown" makes me goosebumpy every time, thinkin about these once great peoples who have been conquered, and their home changed beyond recognition... that's what i think, anyway, but who's gonna agree with a kid like me? :P
I'm kinda there with MrMarouka. this is definately one of my favorite songs next to Honour and Perpetual. i always saw it as a contemplation as to why we have so much left to do and learn and discover. it seems like we are so far behind from where we should be. my favorite line has always been 'even lands we once called home lie undiscovered and unknown' - i could be taking it too literally but i seriously do wonder wtf we are doing out fighting unjustified wars, destroying our own planet and eachother instead of exploring the potential endless possibilities of being human and learning all there is to know about the universe we live in. we seem to be stuck (most of us anyway) and not moving forward or evolving as you would think we should be as a whole.
whewwww sorry about that....
Actually, it sounds like he is using "us" and "we" as metaphors. This song seems to mostly be about himself, and his belief in God (and even humanity, itself, afterall, he is human).
At times, it sounds like he believes (grew up believing), but is surrounded by those who don't. He has to wear a mask of disbelief (chaos) around these people. He wonders if it is heresey to wear this mask. He gets bombarded (internally) with questions of beilef and hope (but of course, only silence as an answer).
The darkness comes from his own doubt. The "saving us" comes from a general dark desire to punish those creating the need for the mask.
As for the lands... the song seems to reference space (astronauts, etc). Some might think he means the oceans deep, but he might also mean space (we once called space home? maybe?). After all, we assume "heaven" is up, in the sky, with the stars... where we came from, and will return.