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.
Side by side we face each other
Standing here alone together
Your code ill break,
You made your last mistake
Called out cold war
Remnants now on the floor
This is Russian radio here
Calling you to come back home
This is Russian radio here
Run while you still can
Different sides we take our stance
This could be our last goodbye forever
Your spies come clean,
They told me everything
Your moves I make,
Penance the fire drake
And if this is our last goodbye
Let me kiss your lips of red tonight
And walk the other way
Run away, run away
This is our last,
This is our last goodbye
Standing here alone together
Your code ill break,
You made your last mistake
Called out cold war
Remnants now on the floor
This is Russian radio here
Calling you to come back home
This is Russian radio here
Run while you still can
Different sides we take our stance
This could be our last goodbye forever
Your spies come clean,
They told me everything
Your moves I make,
Penance the fire drake
And if this is our last goodbye
Let me kiss your lips of red tonight
And walk the other way
Run away, run away
This is our last,
This is our last goodbye
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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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It sounds like he says "This is my ship, radio... calling you to come back home." even though it's not. But I often thought that's what he was saying until I looked it up. It makes much more sense. More silent treatment sort of things going on, it seems like, but he knows maybe using the "russian cold war threat" metaphor, that perhaps he himself is dangerous. The cold war was when both America and Russia were on edge and ready to strike, but knew it was impossible because either way they'd get hit and get damaged. So in this metaphor, he may mean that both of these people in this relationship are having some bumps in the road, and both want to say something but can't for fear of getting hurt, so he says "Run while you still can" calling out for her to either come back to him and fix things, as in, start talking again sort of thing, or dump him before things get worse. The end.