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.
Oh my girl, you're so hot, when you walk, you melt snow
And now that disco has finally grown old
Let's buy back our souls
So let's see, yeah, we've got five bucks between you and me
My mental dishes are finally clean
So cleared are we
Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home
Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home
Intermission's a mission on its own
Intermission's a mission on its own
Oh, now here, seems our wax wings have melted away
Oh, and we've only been here for one day
My faith fades away
So don't be a gray cloud when there's none in the sky
We've found there's no hidden treasure to find
At least we tried
Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home
(Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home)
Intermission's a mission on its own
(Intermission's a mission on its own)
Yeah, so cut the curtains, the actors have gone home
(Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home)
Grab your suitcase, we don't have time to fold
(Grab a suitcase) I said we don't have time to fold
There is no doubt, you throw your inbox out
I said, there is no doubt, you throw your inbox out
I said, there, there is no doubt, you throw your inbox out
There is no doubt, you throw your inbox out
There is no doubt, you throw your inbox out
There is no doubt, you throw your inbox out
There is no doubt, you throw your inbox out
There is no doubt, you throw your inbox
Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home
(Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home)
Intermission's a mission on its own
(Intermission's a mission on its own)
So cut the curtains, the actors have gone home
(Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home)
Grab your suitcase, we don't have time to fold
(Grab a suitcase), I said we don't have time to fold
We don't have no time to fold
We don't have no time to fold
We don't have no time to fold
Said, we don't have no time to fold
And now that disco has finally grown old
Let's buy back our souls
So let's see, yeah, we've got five bucks between you and me
My mental dishes are finally clean
So cleared are we
Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home
Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home
Intermission's a mission on its own
Intermission's a mission on its own
Oh, now here, seems our wax wings have melted away
Oh, and we've only been here for one day
My faith fades away
So don't be a gray cloud when there's none in the sky
We've found there's no hidden treasure to find
At least we tried
Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home
(Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home)
Intermission's a mission on its own
(Intermission's a mission on its own)
Yeah, so cut the curtains, the actors have gone home
(Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home)
Grab your suitcase, we don't have time to fold
(Grab a suitcase) I said we don't have time to fold
There is no doubt, you throw your inbox out
I said, there is no doubt, you throw your inbox out
I said, there, there is no doubt, you throw your inbox out
There is no doubt, you throw your inbox out
There is no doubt, you throw your inbox out
There is no doubt, you throw your inbox out
There is no doubt, you throw your inbox out
There is no doubt, you throw your inbox
Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home
(Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home)
Intermission's a mission on its own
(Intermission's a mission on its own)
So cut the curtains, the actors have gone home
(Cut the curtains, the actors have gone home)
Grab your suitcase, we don't have time to fold
(Grab a suitcase), I said we don't have time to fold
We don't have no time to fold
We don't have no time to fold
We don't have no time to fold
Said, we don't have no time to fold
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
He meets a girl who he finds utterly amazing. He just wants to get right to love and what not and skip the dating (Line: now that disco has finally grown old. A.k.a., dancing together—dating, is so last year). They always act a certain way around people (acting) and when they are alone act themselves, which might not be a good thing (Lines: Cut the Curtains the actors have gone home, The intermission is a mission on it's own). They try to be together as themselves and their “love” and their “wax wings” or fake wings melt away. The wax wings may symbolize their hope and faith for their relationship. The girl starts becoming depressed and irritable (Line: So don't, be a grey cloud when there's none in the sky) but the guy is saying, “I guess we didn’t have true love after all, but its better we had it then nothing at all” (Lines: We found there’s no hidden treasure to find, At least we tried) Then I think he’s saying to throw away all the work that still needs to be done out, with out doubt (Line: There is no doubt you throw your inbox out) and then they also decide to go away, with out facing defeat (Line: Grab your suitcase you don't have time to fold). That is my really long interpretation of the song.
Does anyone else have an extremely clear definition of this song? possibly? Cuz i think mine might be a little off.