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.
And you'll choke on those words no one can swallow that much pride and my contentions all ring true every word you said was a lie and I thought we were friends but you changed that in time you're too caught up in the trends and your ego's on the line you played the role until I called you out and I really hope you listened I really hope you change things this time don't feed me that line again I'm waiting for something that you'll never give never again and this music will end and you'll move on to the next dying trend you're my fairweather friend and the signals that you send get mixed too easily another day like this could be the end of me
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Wow ok, i love spitalfield!! The first song i heard was, Stolen from Some Great Writer, and after that i decided that i have to have the cd, i hope that now that the cd is out more people will comment on the songs!!!! This song is great!!, I swear they must have met this girl i went to school with!! i absolutely love this song
this song is so good, its about his friend who he thought he could trust and depend on until herealised that this person cared more about their image and ego than they cared about him and when he 'called you out' it showed everybody what a liar they really were. sweet song
Perfect wise that is so right. go emo. this stuff is so deep and most can relate.
Perfect wise that is so right. go emo. this stuff is so deep and most can relate.
i heard that this song was about Fall Out Boy. maybe that's true... i think they're both from chicago
The song used to remind me of a friend, but now it doesn't, which makes me rather happy.