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.
We dismiss the back roads
To ride these streets unafraid
Resigned to scraping paint
From our bones unashamed
No more the eye upon you
No more the simple man
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
As you might have guessed all is never shown
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
And in my prayers I dream alone
A silent speech to deaf ear
If you want love you must be love
But if you bleed love you will die loved
No more the lie upon you
Cast into stone and autumn shade
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
As you might have sensed we won't make it home
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
Before the rites of spring
Come to mean all things
A little taste of what may come
A mere glimpse of what has gone
'Cause for the moment we are free
We seek to bind our release
Too young to die, too rich to care
Too fucked to swear that I was there
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
As you might have guessed we won't make it home
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
To ride these streets unafraid
Resigned to scraping paint
From our bones unashamed
No more the eye upon you
No more the simple man
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
As you might have guessed all is never shown
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
And in my prayers I dream alone
A silent speech to deaf ear
If you want love you must be love
But if you bleed love you will die loved
No more the lie upon you
Cast into stone and autumn shade
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
As you might have sensed we won't make it home
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
Before the rites of spring
Come to mean all things
A little taste of what may come
A mere glimpse of what has gone
'Cause for the moment we are free
We seek to bind our release
Too young to die, too rich to care
Too fucked to swear that I was there
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
As you might have guessed we won't make it home
Desolation, yes
Hesitation, no
Lyrics submitted by Dead People, edited by Mellow_Harsher, pinata89
Age of Innocence Lyrics as written by William Patrick Corgan
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's about the smashing pumpkins breaking up, kids.
wow, my favourite of machina and no comment? thats a pitty! my heart startet to fly everytime i hear this song!
Is this the Smashing Pumpkins farewell song...do you think Billy knew it and decided to make this the "goodbye"???
After furth analyzation...I conclude that yes indeed this was Billy's feelings about himself, James Iha, D'arcy, and Jimmy Chamberlain.
"cause for the moment we are free we seek to bind our release too young to die, too rich to care too fucked to swear that i was there"
they are free from the Pumpkins. They were too young to die to end it. They made a crap load of money from the Pumpkins, so they may not be sad or care too too much that it's over. And the ride was so unbelievable, Billy insists it was an illusion. I think those lines right there summarize Billy's final feelings on the Smashing Pumpkins.
Definitely a goodbye song. Also the best they wrote. Fitting...;)
a great end to a great band
"desolation yes hesitation no" Reminds me of a certain War we are now in. grrr
<i>"and in my prayers i dream alone a silent speach to deaf ear if you want love you must be love but if bleed love you will die loved"</i>
Wow. This song is just...amazing. Those lyrics haunt me. I just can't describe it. But yeah...
I agree with everyone else. This is their goodbye. I think the title refers to their good times in the band also. They left that far behind.
this is my favourite pumpkins song....along with here is no why and stars falling. i love the lines "too young to die, too rich to care too fucked to swear that i was there". it just seems so desolate. i agree with what y2doggy said bout these lines.