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.
Hands on the Bible
Scared like a child
God holds you liable
For what you've done
Homicidal
Stare down your idols
Pretty baby never born
You can't believe it
You didn't mean it
But they saw you do it and they know your name
Rats in the attic
Toys in the cellar
She's an addict
He wants to learn
Hands on the bible
Egomaniacal as you screw yourself into oblivion
Worn and faded
Stoned and jaded
You'll have to face it on your own
Smashed on the pavement
Stunned in amazement
Everything you made comes crawling back to you
You can't believe it
You didn't mean it
But they saw you do it and they know your name
So hands on the bible
Scared like a child
God holds you liable
For what ya done
Homicidal
Stare down your idols
A pretty baby never to be born
You can't pretend that you don't know the reason
For the repent that you saw
Hands on the Bible
Hands on the Bible
Hands on the Bible
Hands on the Bible
Scared like a child
God holds you liable
For what you've done
Homicidal
Stare down your idols
Pretty baby never born
You can't believe it
You didn't mean it
But they saw you do it and they know your name
Rats in the attic
Toys in the cellar
She's an addict
He wants to learn
Hands on the bible
Egomaniacal as you screw yourself into oblivion
Worn and faded
Stoned and jaded
You'll have to face it on your own
Smashed on the pavement
Stunned in amazement
Everything you made comes crawling back to you
You can't believe it
You didn't mean it
But they saw you do it and they know your name
So hands on the bible
Scared like a child
God holds you liable
For what ya done
Homicidal
Stare down your idols
A pretty baby never to be born
You can't pretend that you don't know the reason
For the repent that you saw
Hands on the Bible
Hands on the Bible
Hands on the Bible
Hands on the Bible
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Actually, Here Comes the Zoo was the FIRST album without the original H.