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.
Look, you're standing alone
(Standing alone)
However I should have known
(I should have known)
Never before, never again
You will ignore, I will pretend
Never before, never again
You will ignore, I will pretend
In your world, you're alone in your face
You're alone in your world
You're alone in your face
How, you said you never would leave me alone, how
How, you said you never would leave me alone
Now you're just walking away
(Walking away)
When you said you always would stay
(Always would stay)
Never before, never again
You will ignore, I will pretend
Never before, never again
You will ignore, I will pretend
In your world, you're alone in your face
Your alone in your world
Your alone in your face
How, you said you never would leave me alone, how
How, you said you never would leave me alone
Never before, never again
You will ignore, I will pretend
In your world, you're alone in your place
You're alone in your world
You're alone in your place
How, you said you never would leave me alone, how
How, you said you never would leave me alone
How, you said you never would leave me alone, how
How, you said you never would leave me alone
Alone
(Standing alone)
However I should have known
(I should have known)
Never before, never again
You will ignore, I will pretend
Never before, never again
You will ignore, I will pretend
In your world, you're alone in your face
You're alone in your world
You're alone in your face
How, you said you never would leave me alone, how
How, you said you never would leave me alone
Now you're just walking away
(Walking away)
When you said you always would stay
(Always would stay)
Never before, never again
You will ignore, I will pretend
Never before, never again
You will ignore, I will pretend
In your world, you're alone in your face
Your alone in your world
Your alone in your face
How, you said you never would leave me alone, how
How, you said you never would leave me alone
Never before, never again
You will ignore, I will pretend
In your world, you're alone in your place
You're alone in your world
You're alone in your place
How, you said you never would leave me alone, how
How, you said you never would leave me alone
How, you said you never would leave me alone, how
How, you said you never would leave me alone
Alone
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
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I think she's cheered up a bunch since "everyone else", and "faithful departed". Her note on "Wake up and smell the coffee" (which is just great) reflects how she has come to understand life a little better since the early days. I really enjoyed the rhythym they had on this first album, and "no need to argue" as well; the 'berries were just fabulous, I hope they tour sometime soon!