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.
So, I prayed...
But you weren't listening.
Making miracles?
So, I begged...
But you were far away.
Saving souls perhaps?
So, I screamed...
But she was very small
And you have worlds to mend.
So, she died...
And you were glorious.
But you were somewhere else.
If you are my shepherd
Then I'm lost and no one can find me.
If you are my saviour
Then I'm dead and no one can help me.
If you are my glory
Then I'm sick and no one can cure me.
If you light my darkness
Then I'm blind and no one can see me.
If you are my father
Then love lies abandoned and bleeding.
If you are my comfort
Then nightmares are real and deceiving.
If you are my answer
Then I must have asked the wrong question.
I'd spit on your heaven
If I could find one to believe in.
But you weren't listening.
Making miracles?
So, I begged...
But you were far away.
Saving souls perhaps?
So, I screamed...
But she was very small
And you have worlds to mend.
So, she died...
And you were glorious.
But you were somewhere else.
If you are my shepherd
Then I'm lost and no one can find me.
If you are my saviour
Then I'm dead and no one can help me.
If you are my glory
Then I'm sick and no one can cure me.
If you light my darkness
Then I'm blind and no one can see me.
If you are my father
Then love lies abandoned and bleeding.
If you are my comfort
Then nightmares are real and deceiving.
If you are my answer
Then I must have asked the wrong question.
I'd spit on your heaven
If I could find one to believe in.
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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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Specifically, this song was about Gary and Gemma (his wife) losing their unborn child.
It really highlights Gary's frustration with the prevalent belief in God that he does not share. It is an angry slap in the face to a God he feels does not exist and in the face of those that share a belief in that God that obviously was not there when they could have used His help.
The hypocracy of singing to a God you don't believe in is rather large, but I think intentional. Much like ANdy Partridge of XTC when he wrote "Dear God". He uses that hypocracy to underline what he sees as a ridiculous and maddening weakness in his fellow man.
I love the power of this song and how clearly Gary illustrates his pain, sorrow and frustration.
@damrat Sorry man, but singing to someone who does not exist and you are 100% sure about that does not make too much sense. Real atheists do not speak about God, the ones who mention Him, even if they are not religious, is because there is something inside of them.