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.
And you thought that you'd see it again, a New England sunrise from the top of the bridge. where every dawn you'd sit and you'd say a little prayer for your dad you haven't seen in a year.
how would you feel if you didn't know he was there? he is...you say "hello" every morning as you pass by his stairs. he lives right next door to your very own, and he says goodnight every night before you go home.
and it feels so good. knowing nothing, thinking everything will be the same and your life will never change. doesn't it feel good?
you never thought you'd live it. your life's a saga, a never ending re-run of an old episode. a tape you never thought you'd rewind and watch again but you do it everyday, will the tape ever end?
and it doesn't feel good? doing nothing you should. every time you try you fail maybe that's why you say, "why try i'll fall again?" fall again...AGAIN!...AGAIN!...AGAIN!
and everybody needs someone...everybody needs someone...everybody needs someone....everybody needs someone. THEY NEED SOME-SOMEONE! SOMEONE!...like you.
And I can still remember the summer's eve. you said the night was young, there's plenty left to see. time flew by, some said the years were kind. In details lost among the city lights the words were hard to find...HARD TO FIND! TO FIND! TO FIND!
The stories, been written twice before, don't want to hear it anymore, your ears are starting to bleed.
your vain is still an ugly child. your will is strong, intentions mild. you can't get by on your deeds.
you gotta say a prayer (SAY A PRAYER!) keep the faith (KEEP the FAITH!) and depend on me to keep you awake. i'll never let you down (LET YOU DOWN!) leave you out (LEAVE YOU OUT!) going where i've gone. can't keep my spirit down, heart left me cold, looking 'round. can't keep my spirit down, heart left me cold, looking 'round and round and round...SAY A PRAYER...YEAH YEAH...SAY A PRAYER...YEAH YEAH YEAH...can't keep my spirit down, heart left me cold, looking 'round yeah, can't keep my spirit down, heart left me cold, looking 'round and 'round and 'round...AROUND! AROUND, AROUND!
how would you feel if you didn't know he was there? he is...you say "hello" every morning as you pass by his stairs. he lives right next door to your very own, and he says goodnight every night before you go home.
and it feels so good. knowing nothing, thinking everything will be the same and your life will never change. doesn't it feel good?
you never thought you'd live it. your life's a saga, a never ending re-run of an old episode. a tape you never thought you'd rewind and watch again but you do it everyday, will the tape ever end?
and it doesn't feel good? doing nothing you should. every time you try you fail maybe that's why you say, "why try i'll fall again?" fall again...AGAIN!...AGAIN!...AGAIN!
and everybody needs someone...everybody needs someone...everybody needs someone....everybody needs someone. THEY NEED SOME-SOMEONE! SOMEONE!...like you.
And I can still remember the summer's eve. you said the night was young, there's plenty left to see. time flew by, some said the years were kind. In details lost among the city lights the words were hard to find...HARD TO FIND! TO FIND! TO FIND!
The stories, been written twice before, don't want to hear it anymore, your ears are starting to bleed.
your vain is still an ugly child. your will is strong, intentions mild. you can't get by on your deeds.
you gotta say a prayer (SAY A PRAYER!) keep the faith (KEEP the FAITH!) and depend on me to keep you awake. i'll never let you down (LET YOU DOWN!) leave you out (LEAVE YOU OUT!) going where i've gone. can't keep my spirit down, heart left me cold, looking 'round. can't keep my spirit down, heart left me cold, looking 'round and round and round...SAY A PRAYER...YEAH YEAH...SAY A PRAYER...YEAH YEAH YEAH...can't keep my spirit down, heart left me cold, looking 'round yeah, can't keep my spirit down, heart left me cold, looking 'round and 'round and 'round...AROUND! AROUND, AROUND!
Lyrics submitted by Ichi
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
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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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
yeah, this song is totally awsome and i deffinatly agree that its an awsome way ofm how they make a connection between our heavenly father and an earthly father.