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.
A cautious smile under the western sky
Would curl upwards like the wild sea
A special friend knowing all the ways of love
Would talk his way back inside a tiny second
Don't promise good intention
One in a thousand (maybe even me)
Don't know there are clouds in the sky
Sooner or later everyone will say the same thing
Baby, you already know
That all I want is to be with you
Call me over sooner
Call me right now
I'm standing underneath the blackest rolling sky
I don't know my way forward
I'm dizzy with the wind
Turning like a compass never true only spinning
All I want is to be with you
In the sad and lonely pines
Where no midday sun ever shines
As the clouds all float into thin air
Underneath the blackest sky somewhere
I hear the soul of man never dies
I hear that special will survive
Keeping time over the rolling roads
Staying with me as my thoughts all go
Chasing away in the green fields
Where every breath gives up and yields
To all I want
Would curl upwards like the wild sea
A special friend knowing all the ways of love
Would talk his way back inside a tiny second
Don't promise good intention
One in a thousand (maybe even me)
Don't know there are clouds in the sky
Sooner or later everyone will say the same thing
Baby, you already know
That all I want is to be with you
Call me over sooner
Call me right now
I'm standing underneath the blackest rolling sky
I don't know my way forward
I'm dizzy with the wind
Turning like a compass never true only spinning
All I want is to be with you
In the sad and lonely pines
Where no midday sun ever shines
As the clouds all float into thin air
Underneath the blackest sky somewhere
I hear the soul of man never dies
I hear that special will survive
Keeping time over the rolling roads
Staying with me as my thoughts all go
Chasing away in the green fields
Where every breath gives up and yields
To all I want
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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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