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.
I was born amidst the purple waterfalls
I was weak, yet not unblessed
Dead to the world
Alive for the journey
One night I dreamt a white rose withering
A newborn drowning a lifetime loneliness
I dreamt all my future. Relived my past
I witnessed the beauty of the beast
Where have all the feelings gone?
Why has all the laughter ceased?
Why am I loved only when I'm gone?
Gone back in time to bless the child
How can I ever feel again?
Given the chance would I return?
Why am I loved only when I'm gone?
Gone back in time to bless the child
Think of me long enough to make a memory
Come bless the child one more time
I've never felt so alone in my life
As I drank from a cup which was counting my time
There's a poison drop in this cup of man
To drink it is to follow the left hand path
Why am I loved only when I'm gone?
Gone back in time to bless the child
Think of me long enough to make a memory
Come bless the child one more time
Think of me long enough to make a memory
Come bless the child one more time
Where have all the feelings gone?
Why is the deadliest sin,
To love as I loved you?
Now unblessed, homesick in time,
Soon to be freed from care, from human pain
My tale is the most bitter truth
Time pays us but with earth & dust
And a dark, silent grave.
Remember, my child
Without innocence the cross is only iron,
Hope is only an illusion
And the ocean soul's
Nothing but a name
The child bless thee
And keep thee forever
I was weak, yet not unblessed
Dead to the world
Alive for the journey
One night I dreamt a white rose withering
A newborn drowning a lifetime loneliness
I dreamt all my future. Relived my past
I witnessed the beauty of the beast
Where have all the feelings gone?
Why has all the laughter ceased?
Why am I loved only when I'm gone?
Gone back in time to bless the child
How can I ever feel again?
Given the chance would I return?
Why am I loved only when I'm gone?
Gone back in time to bless the child
Think of me long enough to make a memory
Come bless the child one more time
I've never felt so alone in my life
As I drank from a cup which was counting my time
There's a poison drop in this cup of man
To drink it is to follow the left hand path
Why am I loved only when I'm gone?
Gone back in time to bless the child
Think of me long enough to make a memory
Come bless the child one more time
Think of me long enough to make a memory
Come bless the child one more time
Where have all the feelings gone?
Why is the deadliest sin,
To love as I loved you?
Now unblessed, homesick in time,
Soon to be freed from care, from human pain
My tale is the most bitter truth
Time pays us but with earth & dust
And a dark, silent grave.
Remember, my child
Without innocence the cross is only iron,
Hope is only an illusion
And the ocean soul's
Nothing but a name
The child bless thee
And keep thee forever
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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
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"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.
Just A Little Lovin'
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
The intro to this song must be one of the most beautiful ever and then when it enters into the drum beat and gains power it is wonderful. i wish it had a few more twists and turns in the rest of the song though.
You idiots Is about the album and the songs it self lol... Century child (child = album)
"I was born amidst the purple waterfalls. (purple is the color of intelligence, so it was born in the mind of the poet) I was weak, yet not unblessed. (this is the blessing for good luck) Dead to the world. Alive for the journey. (no one know of it, but its ready to go) One night I dreamt a white rose withering, (Ever Dream) a newborn drowning a lifetime loneliness. (Slaying The Dreamer & Forever Yours) I dreamt all my future. Relived my past. (Ocean Soul & Feel For You, dream = writing, so he wrote it all and read it over) A witnessed the beauty of the beast" (its good while it lasted "beauty of the beast" wish had more night to live, night = song) Where have all the feelings gone? Why has all the laughter ceased? (forgotten) Why am I loved only when I'm gone? (remember how it was good) Gone back in time to bless the child Think of me long enough to make a memory Come bless the child one more time (he so desperately wants this to success) How can I ever feel again? Given the chance would I return? (n/c) I've never felt so alone in my life As I drank from a cup which was counting my time There's a poison drop in this cup of Man To drink it is to follow the left hand path (n/c..boring) "Where have all the feelings gone? Why is the deadliest sin - to love as I loved you? Now unblessed, homesick in time, soon to be freed from care, from human pain. My tale is the most bitter truth: Time pays us but with earth & dust, and a dark, silent grave. (nothing matters in the end) Remember, my child: Without innocence the cross is only iron, (its not the size of the hammer, its how you swing it) hope is only an illusion and Ocean Soul's nothing but a name... (and nothing is real if it has no heart)
The Child bless thee and keep thee forever" (may this "child" be pure, touch others, remain as that)
All the time hes talking to hes work.
I do agree upon most of the things you said.<br /> <br /> But I think that "A white rose whitering" means "End of Innocence", I don't find a lot in common for this line and the song Ever Dream (perhaps you would like to explain it further?).<br /> <br /> "A newborn drowning a lifetime loneliness"... I think it's not really in connection with those songs, but about an idea, misunderstood and rejected from the very beginning.<br /> <br /> The last thing is that I don't think it's about "talking to his work", but more stating a general "rules" of the life.<br /> <br /> As, to the rest, I completely agree, and like your imterpretation.
@EverDream I like your interpretation! Thanks it makes perfectly sense.<br /> Yeah I know your comment is 10 years older...
I think Leekonghian's interpretation is more accurate, as an evidence Nightwish made the Gethsemane song...
It's a good interpretation, but one thing that no one seems to have commented on; the song fades away perfectly into End of all Hope, which to me states that the two songs are connected to each other somehow, as if the story is either continuing or being told from two viewpoints. I do agree with most of the interpretations in this song here, but I think to understand it perfectly we need to consider both songs together rather than seperately.
I think Toumas is using Jesus as a metaphor. He does not seem to be very religious and Nightwish is not a Christian band. This is especially evident in the song Gethsemane.
@Arm Just you say my friend,Nightwish is Gothic band not christian LOL...........The Cross is only iron Nothing More.
the cross is only iron, hope is only an illusion
I think that this songs said that Religions have not value, and stones in the grave is just stone,nothing more. I like this.
Gone back in time to bless the child Time pays us but with earth & dust and a dark, silent grave.
and said that time flows fastly all will die,and will return to the earth and not to the god just said the religions lol
This has to be my one of favourite songs off this album. I know it's about death, the person dying.
I think it's about a meek young dying child who believes they are loved. The child misses all of their life when they were living more and not say hospitalized or qarintined. And it brings up that great old point of becoming famous after you're dead e.g. Bethoven. And that means more than you think, when you die people only remember the good times. And it seems to be a prayer, or plea for love if only once more. The part where they bring up "human pain" implies the freedom of the soulf rom the body after death, an ascension to a higher level of existence...freedon from this pain. And then once again the "ocean soul" bit, which seems to be brought up in many songs, seemingly aout a soul lost at sea and forgotten like the sea itself, there but not recognized. And then a last plea for love, then fading away to death.
the album is amazing
How beautiful.