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.
Grazing eyeballs in the hall
strange that you ever called
cause you don't know the first thing
about wasting an evening
now you've traveled over three states
just to make yourself an inmate
before you start your life again
you keep on turning yourself in
and you work just like doppler radar
you knew just when the skies would open
spent all winter broken by a
little
summer
rain
pulling pages from the calendar
won't make the days go any faster
someone will have to raise your little disaster
but it won't be you and it won't be me
so who's to say we lost anything
show me up show me off show me up you show me off
show me up show me love you show me up show me how
show me up show me off show me up show me how
strange that you ever called
cause you don't know the first thing
about wasting an evening
now you've traveled over three states
just to make yourself an inmate
before you start your life again
you keep on turning yourself in
and you work just like doppler radar
you knew just when the skies would open
spent all winter broken by a
little
summer
rain
pulling pages from the calendar
won't make the days go any faster
someone will have to raise your little disaster
but it won't be you and it won't be me
so who's to say we lost anything
show me up show me off show me up you show me off
show me up show me love you show me up show me how
show me up show me off show me up show me how
Lyrics submitted by freejoe76
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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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.