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.
7 a.m.
The garbage truck beeps as it backs up
And I start my day thinking about what I've thrown away
Could I push rewind?
The credits traverse signifying the end
But I missed the best part, could we please go back to start?
Forgive my indecision
Then again, then again
Then again, you're always first when no one's on your side
But then again, then again
Then again, a day will come when I want off that ride, babe
11 a.m.
By now you would think that I would be up
But my bed sheets shade the heat of choices I've made
And what did I find?
I never thought I could want someone so much
'Cause now you're not here and I'm knee deep in that old fear
Forgive my indecision
I am only a man
Then again, then again
Then again, you're always first when no one's on your side
But then again, then again, again, again
Then again, a day will come when I want off that ride, baby
12 p.m. and my dusty telephone rings
Heavy head up from my pillow, who could it be?
I hope it's you
It's you
Oh, oh-oh-oh
Then again, then again
Then again, you're always first when no one's on your side
But then again, then again, again, again
Then again, the day has come and I want off that ride, babe
The garbage truck beeps as it backs up
And I start my day thinking about what I've thrown away
Could I push rewind?
The credits traverse signifying the end
But I missed the best part, could we please go back to start?
Forgive my indecision
Then again, then again
Then again, you're always first when no one's on your side
But then again, then again
Then again, a day will come when I want off that ride, babe
11 a.m.
By now you would think that I would be up
But my bed sheets shade the heat of choices I've made
And what did I find?
I never thought I could want someone so much
'Cause now you're not here and I'm knee deep in that old fear
Forgive my indecision
I am only a man
Then again, then again
Then again, you're always first when no one's on your side
But then again, then again, again, again
Then again, a day will come when I want off that ride, baby
12 p.m. and my dusty telephone rings
Heavy head up from my pillow, who could it be?
I hope it's you
It's you
Oh, oh-oh-oh
Then again, then again
Then again, you're always first when no one's on your side
But then again, then again, again, again
Then again, the day has come and I want off that ride, babe
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
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
I agree that this song is about the writer's regret at a past decision to end a relationship. Each verse is a poetic description of the misery caused by the "indecision" that put him in his depressed state of mind. At 7a.m. he is romantically reminiscing his relationship, which is something we all do, remembering the good times in a way that makes him regret his decision. At 11a.m. a familiar fear keeps him in bed shaded from the light that will illuminate his regretful actions. During every chorus he is trying to reassure himself that "you're always first when no one is one your side," which to me means that there's nobody to be conscious of in your daily life other than yourself when you do not have a significant other, which can be nice at times. All you have to do is worry about yourself. But at 12 the phone rings making him realize he still misses this person and that he no longer wants to "ride" alone.
DizzyIzzy nailed it.
i absolutely love the first 3 lines of this song..it's very poetic as it alludes to the literal (throwing away trash) and metaphoric (throwing away what was of a relationship). however, i'd have to disagree with everyone in the part that the girl is the one leaving him. i think he is the one doing the leaving and coming back. it appears he's at that point again where he wants her back and he's contemplating "what have i done?!" as it is apparent in the lines "I never thought I could want someone so much, Cause now you're not here and I'm knee deep in that old fear ,Forgive my indecision ,I am only a man"...he's scared to be alone.
@PumpkinGurl I have no idea why everyone else isn't as receptive as you and I are. How obvious could this song be? I was in college when this came out. I didn't realize how amazing '11am' was until an embarrassing amount of years later. Better late than never.
Could it be that the song is generally just about staying inside away from everyone else while regretting pushing others away? Sort of like "Agoraphobia" in a new direction
Love the first three lines.I think this song is about a guy who was indecisive about a girl and decided to dump her but is now having second thoughts about his decision. "then again you're always first when no ones on your side" means that he values being single and only having to think about himself. In the last line he has decided that he "wants off that ride" I think that means he is done playing the field and wants to make it work with that girl.
I like this song aswell. What does the lyric mean "you're always first when no one's on your side" ? I am confused about that.I think maybe it means that she comes back 2 him when she has noone else? I agree with bug zapper about the meaning of the song.
This is obviously just my own opinion but when I heard this song I immediately figured it was about a relationship that ended badly due to cheating. 7 am...he wakes up depressed, makes the allusion of throwing something (his relationship) away "the garbage truck beeps as it backs up and I start my dad thinking about what I've thrown away" which would give the implication that he was the overall cause of the ended relationship would it not? He then describes how he simply wants to go back "could I push rewind?"...don't we all? He wants to make amends, probably does the 'if I could only go back I would never do this or that', etc. "Forgive my indecision" I think he's saying he wasn't sure about the stability of the said relationship and was obviously at some point indecisive...leading to his infidelity. <br /> <br /> He's not up by 11 am which implies depression. "But the bedsheets shade the heat of choices I've made" means (to me...remember?) he cheated with some other girl, probably had sex, maybe something a little more minor, nevertheless...cheated and feels guilty. The only gain concluding in his alleged infidelity was the fact that he is certain he has never wanted anyone so much (his actual girlfriend...not the one he cheated with). He pleads for her forgiveness once again and claims this time that he is "only a man" giving way to his mortality...that everyone inevitably makes mistakes sometimes. <br /> <br /> "12 pm...hope it's you" is pretty self-explanitory wouldn't you say? <br /> <br /> Now for the chorus! He always ends the verses with a plead for forgiveness "forgive my indecision". He then states "then again" which indicates an afterthought that maybe he should just put himself first for awhile; you can focus on yourself and what you want out of life if you don't have someone else to think about "your always first when no one's on your side" (your side meaning when you are in a relationship and with someone). He has another afterthought after this with a following "then again" and realizes that he doesn't want to end up alone, that he does really care about this person he messed things up with and would like a second chance with them, and doesn't want to end up alone again...he likes having someone to think about. "THE day has come and I want off that ride!"
"you're always first when no one's on your side" . when your single you come first, there's no one you need to sacrafice anything for, and you can do what u want. i think this is the meaning because in the verse he talks about how he made the wrong decision breaking up with her? and wants her back... "then again" ..aka but.. your always first when no ones on your side. and also "forgive my indecision" he's undecided and weighing up which is the best decision.
I like this song aswell. What does the lyric mean "you're always first when no one's on your side" ? I am confused about that.I think maybe it means that she comes back 2 him when she has noone else? I agree with bug zapper about the meaning of the song.
"You're always first when no one's on your side." I'm thinking it means kind of what you said, Ceridisbray. You know, when you're in a relationship with someone and everything is so great and one day it just all ends cause your significant other has found someone new that they're completely taken by. Well, they dump you and go off with the other person, but then it doesn't work out with the other person...so they come back to you. So "you're first" because they have no one else to put first, but themselves. I dunno how to explain it. It makes sense in my head. LOL I think the line "the day has come and I want off that ride" means, it's happened before, and he won't take her back this time.
yeah i agree....dontcha just love this song? its very good huh...it makes sense in my head 2 i know what ur sayin!! But i think him saying that he wont take her back is not true...after all he wants her 2 call...isnt that just the way with relationships...its just hard 2 let go!
I agree with both of you although the meaning to ME of the he lyric "By now you would think that I would be up but my bedsheets shade the heated choices I made" Ok... so usually he's awake by then but this relationship really got to hm and he's a little depressed, doesn't wanna get out of bed and face reality. Something I can relate to... lol
hey guys, i just wanted to add my thoughts on this one, to put 2 and 2 together. this is how i see it. Its like this and and the gurl were goin out and then they broke up b/c she found someone new. then she goes back to the original guy when she is left alone, and this happens, alot. and when he says "Heavy head up from my pillow, who could it be? I hope it's you" hes saying, i hate getting stuck in this position, and i hat that you always leve me and come back, and i want to stop this, but i can't help myself...i love you. at least thats whta i think i dont know maybe im wrong.