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.
Out of here
We're out of here
Out of heartache
Along with fear
There goes the fear again
There goes the fear
And cars speed fast
Out of here
And life goes past
Again so near
There goes the fear again
There goes the fear
Close your brown eyes
And lay down next to me
Close your eyes, lay down
'Cause there goes the fear
Let it go
You turn around and life's passed you by
You look to ones you love
To ask them why?
You look to those you love
To justify
You turned around and life's
Passed you by
Passed you by, again
And late last night
Makes up her mind
Another fight
Left behind
There goes the fear again, let it go
There goes the fear
Close your brown eyes
And lay down next to me
Close your eyes, lay down
'Cause there goes the fear
Let it go
You turn around and life's passed you by
You look to ones you love
To ask them why ?
You look to those you love
To justify
You turned around and life's
Passed you by
Passed you by, again
Think of me when you're coming down
But don't look back when leaving town
Think of me when he's calling out
But don't look back when leaving town
Think of me when you close your eyes
But don't look back when you break all ties
Think of me when you're coming down
But don't look back when leaving town today
There goes the fear again, let it go
There goes the fear, let it go
Think of me when you close your eyes
But don't look back when you break all ties
Think of me when you're coming down
But don't look back when leaving town today
We're out of here
Out of heartache
Along with fear
There goes the fear again
There goes the fear
And cars speed fast
Out of here
And life goes past
Again so near
There goes the fear again
There goes the fear
Close your brown eyes
And lay down next to me
Close your eyes, lay down
'Cause there goes the fear
Let it go
You turn around and life's passed you by
You look to ones you love
To ask them why?
You look to those you love
To justify
You turned around and life's
Passed you by
Passed you by, again
And late last night
Makes up her mind
Another fight
Left behind
There goes the fear again, let it go
There goes the fear
Close your brown eyes
And lay down next to me
Close your eyes, lay down
'Cause there goes the fear
Let it go
You turn around and life's passed you by
You look to ones you love
To ask them why ?
You look to those you love
To justify
You turned around and life's
Passed you by
Passed you by, again
Think of me when you're coming down
But don't look back when leaving town
Think of me when he's calling out
But don't look back when leaving town
Think of me when you close your eyes
But don't look back when you break all ties
Think of me when you're coming down
But don't look back when leaving town today
There goes the fear again, let it go
There goes the fear, let it go
Think of me when you close your eyes
But don't look back when you break all ties
Think of me when you're coming down
But don't look back when leaving town today
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.
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.
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
I haven't seen the video clip but my interpretation of it for me is that it's about fear of love and intimacy. The relationship breaks down or doesn't begin because of the fear of being close and vulnerable for either or both. I feel it's about the singer knowing about the others fear "close you eyes and lay next to me" there goes the fear, let it go. saying let go, it's ok, it's safe but then the fear kicks in and she gets angry and mad then runs away. Both have the fear. It's the chaser runner dynamic. The singer knows this and is hurt that she ran away. She freaked out when the guy got too close to her and this is a common theme for her and him repeating patterns over and over hence "you turn around and life's passed you by" keep pushing people away as soon as they get close.