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.
Now i will find peace of mind
Finally found a way of thinking
Tried the rest found the best
Stormy day won't find me sinking
I can't conceal it like I know I did before
I got to tell you now the ship is ready
Waiting on the shore.
Dare to look face the test on the eve
When you set sailing
What you've learned what you've earned
Ship of joy will stop you failing.
I can't conceal it like I know I did before
I got to tell you now the ship is ready
Waiting on the shore.
Wind is high so am I
As the shore sinks in the distance.
Dreams unfold seek the gold.
Gold that's brighter than sunlight.
Sail away see the day
Dawning on a new horizon
Gold's insight shining bright
Brighter than the sun that's rising.
3000 sails on high are straining in the wind
A raging sea below is this voyage coming to an end.
Finally found a way of thinking
Tried the rest found the best
Stormy day won't find me sinking
I can't conceal it like I know I did before
I got to tell you now the ship is ready
Waiting on the shore.
Dare to look face the test on the eve
When you set sailing
What you've learned what you've earned
Ship of joy will stop you failing.
I can't conceal it like I know I did before
I got to tell you now the ship is ready
Waiting on the shore.
Wind is high so am I
As the shore sinks in the distance.
Dreams unfold seek the gold.
Gold that's brighter than sunlight.
Sail away see the day
Dawning on a new horizon
Gold's insight shining bright
Brighter than the sun that's rising.
3000 sails on high are straining in the wind
A raging sea below is this voyage coming to an end.
Lyrics submitted by ChildOfAcid
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
"Now I find peace of mind Finally found a way of thinking Tried the rest found the best Stormy day won't see me sinking"
This first verse sets the story - Ozzy has finally shut out the people telling him how to think and live. He's tried their ways for too long and now he wants to do what feels natural, and he is willing to bet he can weather any storm if his ways get him into trouble.
[Chorus] "I can't conceal it like I know I did before I got to tell you now the ship is ready Waiting on the shore"
Ozzy is saying he can't fake who he is anymore, and needs to let out the part of him that society has tried so hard to suppress. He then tells the audience he is out the door because his next voyage in life is ready to go.
"Dare to look face the test on the eve When you set sailing What you've learned what you've earned Ship of joy will stop you failing"
Before Ozzy actually changes into what he wants to be, he becomes introspective and wonders if he is making the right choice. He realizes that he's been through a lot and knows he deserves to be true to himself. The ship of joy is his vessel into his new way of thinking. Allowing himself to be happy will make his life seem like less of a failure.
[Chorus]
"Wind is high so am I As the shore sinks in the distance Dreams unfold seek the gold Gold that's brighter than the sunlight Sail away see the day Dawning on a new horizon Gold's insight shining bright Brighter than the sun that's rising"
Ozzy is now in full swing - doing drugs and can't go back. This doesn't bother him though, because he's realized so many of his dreams since getting on that ship. His new life experiences have been worth to him more than gold. He's excited for the future and says his experiences motivate him and brought him closer to God/his spirituality.
"Three thousand sails on high are straining in the wind A raging sea below is this voyage coming to an end"
Ozzy has finally lost all control. He doesn't know if he is going to be able to weather this one after all.
@btmngtrmn I think you're right. I also think S.A.T.O. can be interpreted as, "Solo And Taking Off".
@btmngtrmn Sorry to break it to you, but bassist Bob Daisley wrote the lyrics. This song has literally nothing to do with Ozzie Osbourne.