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.
If I could draw my own self portrait – I’m blindfolded, gagged and bound.
My window’s drawn.
My light is shattered.
My floor is bare.
I turn away into this corner.
Frozen shards of silver emptiness.
Fingertips shatter the glass
Moving closer – pulling away the dust
And still the view is empty.
Cracks, decays – cutting just to feel.
Bleeding, staining – opaque, brittle and rotten.
Brittle, dust – older than time.
I gave you life…some truths will die with me.
If I could believe that your soul would burn forever
I’d take my sins and commit them eternally.
If I could draw my own self portrait
All you’d see is a tattered canvas at my feet.
My window’s drawn.
My light is shattered.
My floor is bare.
I turn away into this corner.
Frozen shards of silver emptiness.
Fingertips shatter the glass
Moving closer – pulling away the dust
And still the view is empty.
Cracks, decays – cutting just to feel.
Bleeding, staining – opaque, brittle and rotten.
Brittle, dust – older than time.
I gave you life…some truths will die with me.
If I could believe that your soul would burn forever
I’d take my sins and commit them eternally.
If I could draw my own self portrait
All you’d see is a tattered canvas at my feet.
Lyrics submitted by Landmine_Springer
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