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.
You could lose your mind
Easier than you would like to think
Your best friend could up and leave you
Playing tricks and cold deceive you
Standing there people stare
Let down by your own mind
Day of appreciation
For ways your mind has not yet let you down
The truth is that we will all go
Maybe five minutes after the show
You know you are a shooting star
A blazing flash then gone
Are we advancing
Or a collapsing visionary
Are we really here
Are we imaginary
As my thoughts separates
Into the many frayed parts
Torn shattered bits
My mind falling apart
Are we advancing
Or a collapsing visionary
Are we really here
Are we imaginary
As my thoughts separates
Into the many frayed parts
Torn shattered bits
My mind falling apart
What if there was such a thing
What if there's such a thing as dependence day
There's no self congratulation
Just a day of appreciation
Quietly humbly
For things that have not gone wrong
Imagine the frustration
Of losing bearing of the simplest thing
So come with your best
And do your worst before
You can't remember what you came for
Are we advancing
Or a collapsing visionary
Are we really here
Are we imaginary
As my thoughts separates
Into the many frayed parts
Torn shattered bits
My mind falling apart
Blazing out the mains
Hungry flames consume all that I see
Are we advancing
Or a collapsing visionary
Are we really here
Are we imaginary
As my thoughts separates
Into the many frayed parts
Torn shattered bits
My mind falling apart
Are we advancing
Or a collapsing visionary
Are we really here
Are we imaginary
As my thoughts separates
Into the many frayed parts
Torn shattered bits
My mind falling apart
Easier than you would like to think
Your best friend could up and leave you
Playing tricks and cold deceive you
Standing there people stare
Let down by your own mind
Day of appreciation
For ways your mind has not yet let you down
The truth is that we will all go
Maybe five minutes after the show
You know you are a shooting star
A blazing flash then gone
Are we advancing
Or a collapsing visionary
Are we really here
Are we imaginary
As my thoughts separates
Into the many frayed parts
Torn shattered bits
My mind falling apart
Are we advancing
Or a collapsing visionary
Are we really here
Are we imaginary
As my thoughts separates
Into the many frayed parts
Torn shattered bits
My mind falling apart
What if there was such a thing
What if there's such a thing as dependence day
There's no self congratulation
Just a day of appreciation
Quietly humbly
For things that have not gone wrong
Imagine the frustration
Of losing bearing of the simplest thing
So come with your best
And do your worst before
You can't remember what you came for
Are we advancing
Or a collapsing visionary
Are we really here
Are we imaginary
As my thoughts separates
Into the many frayed parts
Torn shattered bits
My mind falling apart
Blazing out the mains
Hungry flames consume all that I see
Are we advancing
Or a collapsing visionary
Are we really here
Are we imaginary
As my thoughts separates
Into the many frayed parts
Torn shattered bits
My mind falling apart
Are we advancing
Or a collapsing visionary
Are we really here
Are we imaginary
As my thoughts separates
Into the many frayed parts
Torn shattered bits
My mind falling apart
Lyrics submitted by BeautifulDisaster
Dancehall Lyrics as written by Nicholas Hexum Douglas Martinez
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I noticed that SA is answering his lyrics from Dancehall in You Get Worked. In Dancehall SA asks: Are we advancing or a collapsing Visionary Are we really here Are we imaginary
In You Get Worked,SA answers: We are advancing and retracting visionaries really here, it's not imaginary
did anyone else catch this? When I realized this, I was blown awayy
good catch.
I caught it years ago as well. I would like to know what made SA know the answer to that question.
this is a great song, but i've been having trouble figuring it out. I think it's telling people to be glad when bad things don't happen, and when they do, learn from the experience....don't get upset over trivial things. Anyway, that's what i get from it...
Yeah, i have the same problem. I find SA's lyrics to be pretty crucial but hard to understand, and Nick's lyrics more digestible. Either way, this song is just tight....and I think that if 311 put out a CD of just their b-sides, it would sell twice as much as the Blue one.
thanks! My friend's say I listen to 311 way too much..oh well.
The song title "Dancehall" is a metaphor for life. You're born, you live your life (blazing flash), and then you die (then gone). At a dancehall, you walk in, do your thing (blazing flash) and then you die (then gone).
The song says we will all die. Be thankful that you haven't died or lost your mind yet. Many things can take your mind. Drugs, disease, other medical problems, or simply age. We should all be humbly thankful that these things haven't happened to us, because it's by chance. One of the bandmembers or fans could die.. literally five minutes after the show as the lyrics state.
It's tough to think about mortality, but in the end you have to accept that you are born, you live, and you die. Otherwise you will torture yourself with the what-ifs of life, when and how you will die, and fearing the many things that go along with dying or knowing you will die soon.
That's my take.