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.
Down down you bring me down
I hear you knocking down my
Door and I can't sleep at night
Your face it has no place
No room for you inside my
House I need to be alone
Don't waste your words I don't need
Anything from you
I don't care where you've been or
What you plan to do
Turn turn I wish you'd learn
There's a time and place for everything
I've got to get it through
Cut loose 'cause you're no use
I couldn't stand another
Second in your company
Don't waste your words I don't need
Anything from you
I don't care where you've been or
What you plan to do
Stone me why can't you see
You're a no one nowhere washed up baby
Who'd look better dead
Your tongue is far too long
I don't like the way it sucks and
Slurs upon my every word
Don't waste your words I don't need
Anything from you
I don't care where you've been or
What you plan to do
I am the resurrection and I am the life
I couldn't ever bring myself
To hate you as I'd
Like
I am the resurrection and I am the life
I couldn't ever bring myself
To hate you as I'd
Like
I hear you knocking down my
Door and I can't sleep at night
Your face it has no place
No room for you inside my
House I need to be alone
Don't waste your words I don't need
Anything from you
I don't care where you've been or
What you plan to do
Turn turn I wish you'd learn
There's a time and place for everything
I've got to get it through
Cut loose 'cause you're no use
I couldn't stand another
Second in your company
Don't waste your words I don't need
Anything from you
I don't care where you've been or
What you plan to do
Stone me why can't you see
You're a no one nowhere washed up baby
Who'd look better dead
Your tongue is far too long
I don't like the way it sucks and
Slurs upon my every word
Don't waste your words I don't need
Anything from you
I don't care where you've been or
What you plan to do
I am the resurrection and I am the life
I couldn't ever bring myself
To hate you as I'd
Like
I am the resurrection and I am the life
I couldn't ever bring myself
To hate you as I'd
Like
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I think this song is a bit of a middle finger at Christianity
I think he's saying he doesn't need a God in his life - "no room for you inside my house"
I guess it's religiously based because:
"I don't care where you've been or what you plan to do" - in reference to Jesus' being on Earth, and then promising what he will do in the future (return on Judgement Day)
"You're a no one nowhere washed up baby who'd look better dead"
"I am the resurrection and I am the life / I couldn't ever bring myself / To hate you as I'd like" - to me it seems he is ridiculing claims of Jesus as arrogant. For someone to say "I am the resurrection and I am the life" seems pretty arrogant to him.
And a slightly more subtle reference is "Turn turn I wish you'd learn". "Turn turn" is a reference to the song "Turn! Turn! Turn!" by The Byrds, the lyrics of which are from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. Quite a famous song, but not many people realise it is from the Bible.
You must be an American - when will you lot stop thinking everything is Jesus related? Bloody idiot. It has nothing to do with religion, it's about a relationship with a girl, the title being an analogy of him becoming single again!<br /> <br /> You have also taken two words from a lyric and come up with a reference to a Byrds supposed reference in a song song as justification for what you are saying! What a clown!
Uhh Ryan, Ian Brown was quoted as saying it was about Anti Christianity.
reddishryan - I'm not American. I'm English. Yorkshireman, to be precise. But thanks for your lovely comment. One little tip - ever considered making a comment without insulting people?
I just realized the song could be read as a passion play where the chorus is the dying christ and the rest of the lyrics are the masses betraying him.
Its about being proud about being proud
@Abra yes aka arrogance
the drums just steal the spotlight in this song
I feel its about a relationship the guy wishes would end but he just can't end it. When he thinks about why, he thinks he is like Jesus - just can't hate her, which he would need to do - to end it.
I went out with a girl a few times, she seemed really clingy so I was trying to get out of this new found relationship. I didn't see her for a few days then I ran into her at a club. There was only about 5 of us on the dancefloor when this song came on and she was one of them.
I remember just kind of dancing around and smiling to myself because the lyrics really captured exactly what I was thinking. She was a bit whacked. I wish her all the best though.
I love this song, i think its about spending too much time with someone and they really get on your nerves and everything about them starts to annoy you.
Brilliant song. An up yours to an ex, methinks.
Also the end of the song is amazing. Just makes me want to grab some bongos.
Extreme sarcasm about some woman who the songwriter's being going out with but is now absolutely sick of, but also being very deliberately aware of his own arrogance and deeply irreverent about religion (which as someone who doesn't believe in a Christian God, I find very funny!) at the same time. Possibly also cocking a snook at men who put women on a pedestal too and think they can do no wrong (compare this with something like Scritti Politti's Absolute, only a few years earlier, which expresses precisely that emotion), as this song says totally the opposite. The coda at the end is in part a reaction at the 80s emphasis on the 3-minute pop song and maybe a prelude to the more Rockist second LP.