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.
To Rise, To Fall.
To Hurt, To Hate.
To Want, To Wait.
To Heal, To Save.
Can't hear it
We fear it
Awareness won't come near it
Distractive
Reactive
Disguised in spite of time
I never bared my emotion
My passion always strong
I never lost my devotion
But somewhere fate went wrong
Can't let them rape me again
Your venom's not family here
Won't let them fill me with
Fatalistic remedies
What if the rest of the world
Was hopelessly blinded by fear?
Where would my sanctity live?
Suddenly nobody cares.
It's never enough
You're wasting your time
Isn't there something I could say?
You don't understand
You're closing me out
How can we live our lives this way?
You tell me I'm wrong
I'm risking my life
Still, I have nothing in return
I show you my hands
You don't see the scars
Maybe you'll leave me here to burn.
What if the rest of the world
Was hopelessly drowning in vain?
Where would our self pity run?
Suddenly everyone cares.
Blood
Heal me
Fear
Change me
Belief will always save me
Blood
Swearing
Fear
Staring
Conviction made aware
Give up on misery
Turn your back on dissent
Leave their distrust behind
Wash your hands of regret
Do you feel you don't know me anymore?
And do you feel I'm afraid of your love?
And how come you don't want me asking?
And how come my heart's not invited?
You say you want everyone happy
Well, we're not laughing.
And how come you don't understand me?
And how come I don't understand you?
Thirty years say we're in this together
So open your eyes.
People in prayer for me
Everyone there for me
Sometimes I feel I should face this alone
My soul exposed
It calms me to know that I won't
Blood
Heal me
Fear
Change me
Belief will always save me
Blood
Swearing
Fear
Staring
Conviction made aware
Give up on misery
Turn your back on dissent
Leave their distrust behind
Wash your hands of regret
Blood
Heal me
Fear
Change me
Belief will always save me
Blood
Swearing
Fear
Staring
Conviction made aware
Learning from misery
Staring back at dissent
Leaving distrust behind
I'm inspired and content
To Hurt, To Hate.
To Want, To Wait.
To Heal, To Save.
Can't hear it
We fear it
Awareness won't come near it
Distractive
Reactive
Disguised in spite of time
I never bared my emotion
My passion always strong
I never lost my devotion
But somewhere fate went wrong
Can't let them rape me again
Your venom's not family here
Won't let them fill me with
Fatalistic remedies
What if the rest of the world
Was hopelessly blinded by fear?
Where would my sanctity live?
Suddenly nobody cares.
It's never enough
You're wasting your time
Isn't there something I could say?
You don't understand
You're closing me out
How can we live our lives this way?
You tell me I'm wrong
I'm risking my life
Still, I have nothing in return
I show you my hands
You don't see the scars
Maybe you'll leave me here to burn.
What if the rest of the world
Was hopelessly drowning in vain?
Where would our self pity run?
Suddenly everyone cares.
Blood
Heal me
Fear
Change me
Belief will always save me
Blood
Swearing
Fear
Staring
Conviction made aware
Give up on misery
Turn your back on dissent
Leave their distrust behind
Wash your hands of regret
Do you feel you don't know me anymore?
And do you feel I'm afraid of your love?
And how come you don't want me asking?
And how come my heart's not invited?
You say you want everyone happy
Well, we're not laughing.
And how come you don't understand me?
And how come I don't understand you?
Thirty years say we're in this together
So open your eyes.
People in prayer for me
Everyone there for me
Sometimes I feel I should face this alone
My soul exposed
It calms me to know that I won't
Blood
Heal me
Fear
Change me
Belief will always save me
Blood
Swearing
Fear
Staring
Conviction made aware
Give up on misery
Turn your back on dissent
Leave their distrust behind
Wash your hands of regret
Blood
Heal me
Fear
Change me
Belief will always save me
Blood
Swearing
Fear
Staring
Conviction made aware
Learning from misery
Staring back at dissent
Leaving distrust behind
I'm inspired and content
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This is one of my favorite Dream Theater songs. I love everything about it.