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 wanted you to know I love the way you laugh
I want to hold you high and steal your pain away
I keep your photograph, and I know it serves me well
I want to hold you high and steal your pain
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
You've gone away
You don't feel me here anymore
The worst is over now and we can breathe again
I want to hold you high, and steal my pain away
There's so much left to learn, and no one left to fight
I want to hold you high and steal your pain
'Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
'Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
You've gone away
You don't feel me here anymore
I want to hold you high and steal your pain away
I keep your photograph, and I know it serves me well
I want to hold you high and steal your pain
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
You've gone away
You don't feel me here anymore
The worst is over now and we can breathe again
I want to hold you high, and steal my pain away
There's so much left to learn, and no one left to fight
I want to hold you high and steal your pain
'Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
'Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
You've gone away
You don't feel me here anymore
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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.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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.
i dont know what the real meaning is behind this song, but to me its about 2 people who mean more to each other than anything, each experiencing the pain of life and each helping the other through it. they cant get by without each other and "i wanna hold you high" is his way of saying how grateful he is that shes in his life. i think the song really gets the depth of this relationship across when amy lee is singing with him.
but then again, that might just be me.
This is the incredible thing about rock. It is not based on how melody can "fit" together into a stream. It, to me, is like taking two crashing worlds together.
Enter Amy Lee's voice. The first time I heard this announced and played on the radio I waited with excitement to hear her voice. I'm a huge fan of Evanescence and her voice tends to make me swoon really hard (it truly weaves such magic!).
Anyway, just hearing the singer of Seether's low voice just roll by like the dust and dirt in the video, hearing Amy's stanza was just amazing! I actually felt my body elevate along with her voice and the way she expresses different tones in different lyrics just caught me so off guard.
This is an incredible song and I just had to mention all that before I could even start to throw out my interpretation!
Anyway, I can't help but imagine a person holding up a child when singing this, but I can see how this would be able two lovers as well (seeing as how Amy Lee broke up with me to go out with that Seether singer!)
This part calls out to me:
The worst is over now And we can breathe again, I want to hold you high You steal my pain, away Theres so much left to learn And no one left to fight, I want to hold you high and steal your pain.
Its almost if one lover was alive while the other had passed away, or perhaps has gone in a different place. And in this part it's as if they are back together again, with nothing left to fight. All is well now. And now they can drop the things that they have fought so hard against. And they can heal once again. And now they can learn and look forward to the places in their heart they have yet to touch.
This world I notice tries to prevent so much love from happening. It tries to take two people a part who are meant to be. It tries to prevent two people who could be so much to ever be. A part of me grows very angry when I experience this.
But now I feel stronger then ever lately. And someday I'll have the confidence to not let anything stand in my way, so I could reach the heart of people that I was not "allowed" to touch by society.
Thank you for bringing tears to my eyes. Thank you for making me realize a few things. I will never know who you are, but you just granted me some hope and happiness.
This is about a breakup with the one girl in his life that is most important to him. I don't believe it is a physical distance that causes that much pain. More pain comes from being close but so far apart.
hey i like this song.
it's obviously about how he's missing someone and he's not the same without her. he's constantly reminded, and likes it, by photographs etc. he hates being alone, and he knows it's because she's gone.
"the worst is over now & we can breathe again" probably means they made up their argument and realize they need to get better, their both lonely and not the same when their not together.
:) pretty much a couple who argues but knows they love each other.
I totally identify w/ this song after being dumped on my ass after a 3 yr relationship 2 mths ago. Every time I hear it i wanna cry. It's definetly about losing the person you love but can't get to them. Torn by memories and damn pictures, broken down because you know you'll never see them again.....I'm going to grab my gun...jk.
I dont understand why people go look up the lyrics for songs they dont even like, why waste your time putting it down, you dont like it who cares. But i definatly disagree with you, this song rocks and theres nothing wrong with linkin park. They're great :)
Cynosure, you apparently don't appreciate heartfelt music such as this. It would be nice if you would pull your head out of your ass and listen to some quality music.
Also, if you think that they suck ass because of the simple fact that they're commercial, then you obviously don't know what the fuck you're talking about.
This is on The Punisher soundtrack and I adore this song. The feeling behind it and what it means to me is overpowering. I can't stop listening to it when it comes on.
i'm not a big fan of evanescene.. and i never even heard of seether till a month ago. but.. i have to admit it's not too bad of a song =)