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.
If he loved you like I love you, I would walk away in shame.
I'd move town, I'd change my name.
When he watches you, when he counts to buy your soul,
On your hand his golden rings like he owns a bird that sings.
When we dance, angels will run and hide their wings.
The priest has said my soul's salvation is in the balance of the angels
And underneath the wheels of passion.
I keep the faith in my fashion.
When we dance angels will run and hide their wings.
(I will love you more than life if you'll only be my wife.)
(I'm gonna love you night and day. I'm gonna try in every way.)
When we dance angels will run and hide their wings.
(I'm gonna find a place to live, give you all I've got to give.)
(I will love you more than life if you'll only be my wife.)
If I could break down these walls and shout my name at heaven's gate,
I'd take these hands and I'd destroy the dark machineries of fate.
Cathedrals are broken, heaven's no longer above,
And hell fire's a promise away I'd still be saying I'm still in love.
Still in love, still in love, still in love, still in love
He won't love you, like I love you.
He won't care for you this way.
He'll mistreat you if you stay.
Come and live with me.
We'll have children of our own.
I would love you more than life if you'll come and be my wife.
When we dance, angels will run and hide their wings.
When we dance, angels will run and hide their wings.
When we dance.
(I'm gonna love you night and day. I'm gonna try in every way.)
(I'm gonna find a place to live, give you all I've got to give.)
(I will love you more than life if you'll only be my wife.)
(I'm gonna love you night and day. I'm gonna try in every way.)
I'd move town, I'd change my name.
When he watches you, when he counts to buy your soul,
On your hand his golden rings like he owns a bird that sings.
When we dance, angels will run and hide their wings.
The priest has said my soul's salvation is in the balance of the angels
And underneath the wheels of passion.
I keep the faith in my fashion.
When we dance angels will run and hide their wings.
(I will love you more than life if you'll only be my wife.)
(I'm gonna love you night and day. I'm gonna try in every way.)
When we dance angels will run and hide their wings.
(I'm gonna find a place to live, give you all I've got to give.)
(I will love you more than life if you'll only be my wife.)
If I could break down these walls and shout my name at heaven's gate,
I'd take these hands and I'd destroy the dark machineries of fate.
Cathedrals are broken, heaven's no longer above,
And hell fire's a promise away I'd still be saying I'm still in love.
Still in love, still in love, still in love, still in love
He won't love you, like I love you.
He won't care for you this way.
He'll mistreat you if you stay.
Come and live with me.
We'll have children of our own.
I would love you more than life if you'll come and be my wife.
When we dance, angels will run and hide their wings.
When we dance, angels will run and hide their wings.
When we dance.
(I'm gonna love you night and day. I'm gonna try in every way.)
(I'm gonna find a place to live, give you all I've got to give.)
(I will love you more than life if you'll only be my wife.)
(I'm gonna love you night and day. I'm gonna try in every way.)
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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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For some reason I imagine this song taking place hundreds of years ago, in a more repressed, religious time. It seems like the singer is saying that by coveting another person's wife or committing adultery he will be denied salvation but he can't help it he loves her so much. And the line about "we'll have children of our own" make me imagine she would have to abandon her children because in older times men always had custody of their children if a woman left her husband. Also the line about "counts to buy your soul" might be the other man buying indulgences to ensure his wife will go to heaven. (or it might mean that other man believes marrying her means he owns her body and soul)