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.
Saw a group of people forming
Round a figure lying down
And someone runs to make a phone call
And the man kneels on the ground
The man kneels on the ground
The man kneels on the ground
There's a tightening in my chest,
I know that I'm drawn in
Oh god let it not be, you
Don't leave us
Don't leave like this
Don't leave me here again
I'm not quitting on you
There's no one else
You're not quitting on us
No running out
The color in your shirt is darkening,
Against the paleness of your skin
I remember how you held the goldfish
Swimming around in a plastic bag
Swimming around in a plastic bag
You held it up so high
In the bright lights of the fair
It slipped and fell
We looked everywhere
Don't leave us (your eyes are bright, your blood is warm)
Don't leave like this (your heart is strong, you're holding on)
Don't leave me here again (I feel your pulse, I hold your hand)
I'm not quitting on you
There's no one else
You're not quitting on us
There's no way out
No way out
Don't leave us
Don't leave like this
Don't leave me here again (I feel your pulse, I hold your hand)
I'm not quitting on you
There's no one else
You're not quitting on us
No running away, no way out
Round a figure lying down
And someone runs to make a phone call
And the man kneels on the ground
The man kneels on the ground
The man kneels on the ground
There's a tightening in my chest,
I know that I'm drawn in
Oh god let it not be, you
Don't leave us
Don't leave like this
Don't leave me here again
I'm not quitting on you
There's no one else
You're not quitting on us
No running out
The color in your shirt is darkening,
Against the paleness of your skin
I remember how you held the goldfish
Swimming around in a plastic bag
Swimming around in a plastic bag
You held it up so high
In the bright lights of the fair
It slipped and fell
We looked everywhere
Don't leave us (your eyes are bright, your blood is warm)
Don't leave like this (your heart is strong, you're holding on)
Don't leave me here again (I feel your pulse, I hold your hand)
I'm not quitting on you
There's no one else
You're not quitting on us
There's no way out
No way out
Don't leave us
Don't leave like this
Don't leave me here again (I feel your pulse, I hold your hand)
I'm not quitting on you
There's no one else
You're not quitting on us
No running away, no way out
Lyrics submitted by mike_patton
No Way Out Lyrics as written by Peter Gabriel
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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this song has a strong meaning to me, its about someone dying as far as i can tell, and its an unexpected death, not the death of an old or sick person. my best friend died some time ago and me and my other friends were there with him, and when i heard this song the first time it hit me like a wall, because it brought back the feeling of helplessness i felt watching him go, where all you can do is think of old times and ask that they not go away. any song that makes you feel , i mean really FEEL an emotion is amazing, to me this is one of those songs.