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.
my life, it just seems to have blown away
my life, i relive the same day, everyday
The worst thing in the world
Is lying on a wet pillow
A pillow soaked in tears of anger and sadness
Everynight, until eventually you fall asleep
Underneathe those cold and lonely sheets
I thought long and hard
I thought about my life, i wanna take charge
Turn everything around
Pick my life up off of this cold hard ground
Then I got this idea
I got this idea to put a bullet in my head
Theres No worries if your dead
Why even live?
Why even live when every day is spent like the last?
Today I felt like I was back in the past
(And yesterday, and the day before
And I will tomorrow and the next day)
Another tear drop leaks out of my tired old eye
I sit there and i just cry
I cry my life away
Everynight, everyday,
im useless, im useless.
I thought long and hard
I thought about my life, i wanna take charge
Turn everything around
Pick my life up off of this cold hard ground
Then I got this idea
I got this idea to put a bullet in my head
Theres No worries if your dead
Think of all thoses times you had
You were alive, You were glad
You had it all and all you had
anger, sadnees, boredom, pain
All of my least favorite things
anger, sadness, boredom, pain
All of my least favorite things
fuck it, im dead
hmm I smell pie
my life, i relive the same day, everyday
The worst thing in the world
Is lying on a wet pillow
A pillow soaked in tears of anger and sadness
Everynight, until eventually you fall asleep
Underneathe those cold and lonely sheets
I thought long and hard
I thought about my life, i wanna take charge
Turn everything around
Pick my life up off of this cold hard ground
Then I got this idea
I got this idea to put a bullet in my head
Theres No worries if your dead
Why even live?
Why even live when every day is spent like the last?
Today I felt like I was back in the past
(And yesterday, and the day before
And I will tomorrow and the next day)
Another tear drop leaks out of my tired old eye
I sit there and i just cry
I cry my life away
Everynight, everyday,
im useless, im useless.
I thought long and hard
I thought about my life, i wanna take charge
Turn everything around
Pick my life up off of this cold hard ground
Then I got this idea
I got this idea to put a bullet in my head
Theres No worries if your dead
Think of all thoses times you had
You were alive, You were glad
You had it all and all you had
anger, sadnees, boredom, pain
All of my least favorite things
anger, sadness, boredom, pain
All of my least favorite things
fuck it, im dead
hmm I smell pie
Lyrics submitted by Poopyumyum
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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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