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.
What a wonderful hesitation
Who would bear to feel sorry for me
Dropped another pill just to calm me
Collapsed to my knees and fell fast into sleep
There I was drifting
Way out into the sunshine
Expecting to crash but I'm tied to a string
Look at me I'm a tangled puppet
I might be a mess but I'm sure can survive
Find myself awake counting sad days
One, two, three that's too many for me
Dropped another pill just to find me
Reached for my hand but it was already there
Then I started believin'
That I fell out of a tiny raindrop
That lost its way when I decided to roam
Chasing me was a hungry dweller
But I had escaped it by pretending to die
Come follow me you won't expect the illusion
You'll see it's my imagination
Hand me your eyes
I will put them in front of mine
You'll see a little better
You'll see a little better
What a wonderful destination
Where I am now
I can no longer see
Dropped another pill just to kill me
Collapsed to my knees and fell fast into sleep
There I was drifting
Way out into the sunshine
Expecting to crash but I'm tied to a string
Look at me I'm a tangled puppet
I might be a mess but I'm sure can survive
But I had escaped it by pretending to die
Who would bear to feel sorry for me
Dropped another pill just to calm me
Collapsed to my knees and fell fast into sleep
There I was drifting
Way out into the sunshine
Expecting to crash but I'm tied to a string
Look at me I'm a tangled puppet
I might be a mess but I'm sure can survive
Find myself awake counting sad days
One, two, three that's too many for me
Dropped another pill just to find me
Reached for my hand but it was already there
Then I started believin'
That I fell out of a tiny raindrop
That lost its way when I decided to roam
Chasing me was a hungry dweller
But I had escaped it by pretending to die
Come follow me you won't expect the illusion
You'll see it's my imagination
Hand me your eyes
I will put them in front of mine
You'll see a little better
You'll see a little better
What a wonderful destination
Where I am now
I can no longer see
Dropped another pill just to kill me
Collapsed to my knees and fell fast into sleep
There I was drifting
Way out into the sunshine
Expecting to crash but I'm tied to a string
Look at me I'm a tangled puppet
I might be a mess but I'm sure can survive
But I had escaped it by pretending to die
Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by KW2013, MalachaiSade
Drifting Lyrics as written by Linda Perry
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I love this fucking song. I'm too drunk right now to write about what i think it means, im listening to it right now. ' I might be a mess but i sure can survive'
It's fucking beautiful.