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.
Wake up, can you hear me?
You're so clever, did you find me?
In the backroom, in your closet
In your suitcase, there's no running
I will find you, like the glacier
Cuts the seabed, leaving canyons
In your cheekbones, passing through you
In the shadows, scenes undo you
Cut your ribbon
As it follows you
Everything, everything
How can you sleep at night?
As it falls apart
Anything, anything
How can you sleep at night?
Face it, can you hear it?
Violation, you'll remember
It's all harmless, incidental
Disengaging, these thoughts break you
Conscious, vicious
It has found you, monovision
Synapse fails you
Frequent syndrome
Stings and burns through
Monovision then dilutes you
Cut your ribbon
As it follows you
Everything, everything
How can you sleep at night?
As it falls apart
Anything, anything
How can you sleep at night?
As it follows you
Everything, everything
How can you sleep at night?
As it falls apart
Anything, anything
How can you sleep at night?
(Can you escape these motives?)
(Can you escape these motives?)
(Can you escape these motives?)
Cut your ribbon
As it follows you
Everything, everything
How can you sleep at night?
As it falls apart
Anything, anything
How can you sleep at night?
You're so clever, did you find me?
In the backroom, in your closet
In your suitcase, there's no running
I will find you, like the glacier
Cuts the seabed, leaving canyons
In your cheekbones, passing through you
In the shadows, scenes undo you
Cut your ribbon
As it follows you
Everything, everything
How can you sleep at night?
As it falls apart
Anything, anything
How can you sleep at night?
Face it, can you hear it?
Violation, you'll remember
It's all harmless, incidental
Disengaging, these thoughts break you
Conscious, vicious
It has found you, monovision
Synapse fails you
Frequent syndrome
Stings and burns through
Monovision then dilutes you
Cut your ribbon
As it follows you
Everything, everything
How can you sleep at night?
As it falls apart
Anything, anything
How can you sleep at night?
As it follows you
Everything, everything
How can you sleep at night?
As it falls apart
Anything, anything
How can you sleep at night?
(Can you escape these motives?)
(Can you escape these motives?)
(Can you escape these motives?)
Cut your ribbon
As it follows you
Everything, everything
How can you sleep at night?
As it falls apart
Anything, anything
How can you sleep at night?
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this song is 100% about guilt & how it follows you EVERYWHERE you go. 'how can you sleep at night' ((CERTAINLY IT'S HARD WHEN SOMETHING IS CONSTANTLY BOTHERING YOU FROM THE PAST))...'i will find you'...........'in your cheekbones passing through you'.........'cut your ribbon ((MEANING TO STOP THE REGRET & FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR PAST SIN ETC))