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.
You'll die young if you live so carefully
There are risks you must take to pay this world
I know it would never be that easy
I have not yet earned the right to die
I want you to hear me screaming
I want you to notice what goes on
Temptation and evil demons crawling the earth hiding in every corner
I've seen men crippled in anger
The sun burns alive in silence
I've seen men wallow in fear
Inaction acts as a blade across the throat
I'll learn how to make decisions
I'll stick by my word, won't let you down
I swear by the grave that's calling
Nothing will stop me from doing what must be done
Something here is still innocent
It doesn't matter if you decide not to believe it
There are still places where the magic can breathe
I want to breathe it in
I want to lay down and never leave
We're stalking the ancient mariner
Through waters he takes his lonely course
Once powerful once beautiful
Extinction lingering these things are no more
I love you I'll never leave you
Though I may be gone for years on end
I will never be separate
Lovers through the lives before and after
Something here is still innocent
It doesn't matter if you decide not to believe it
There are still places where the magic can breathe
I want to breathe it in
I want to lay down and never leave
There are risks you must take to pay this world
I know it would never be that easy
I have not yet earned the right to die
I want you to hear me screaming
I want you to notice what goes on
Temptation and evil demons crawling the earth hiding in every corner
I've seen men crippled in anger
The sun burns alive in silence
I've seen men wallow in fear
Inaction acts as a blade across the throat
I'll learn how to make decisions
I'll stick by my word, won't let you down
I swear by the grave that's calling
Nothing will stop me from doing what must be done
Something here is still innocent
It doesn't matter if you decide not to believe it
There are still places where the magic can breathe
I want to breathe it in
I want to lay down and never leave
We're stalking the ancient mariner
Through waters he takes his lonely course
Once powerful once beautiful
Extinction lingering these things are no more
I love you I'll never leave you
Though I may be gone for years on end
I will never be separate
Lovers through the lives before and after
Something here is still innocent
It doesn't matter if you decide not to believe it
There are still places where the magic can breathe
I want to breathe it in
I want to lay down and never leave
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
so good.
simply love those lines:
There are still places where the magic can breathe I want to breathe it in I want to lay down and never leave
!!!
you have to live your life and not worry so much you have to take risks in oder to truely live it's never easy to do anything but you have to anyway you have to live in order to have the right to die he wants you to know what is going on in your life and not be blind to life there is evil in everythign but you have to overcome it
if you don't ever do anything your writing your own ticket to death you have to think for yourself and be a person who does what they say they will death is always calling you but you have to push forward and "do what must be done"
there is still innocence in the world wheater you belive it or not. he wants to breathe in the magic of innocence cause once its gone you cant get it back.
we're only following the taken path but love continues on through everything. and the lovers will meet agian. because there love is part of the innocense that will not and can not die
something here is still innocent It doesn't matter if you decide not to believe it There are still places where the magic can breathe I want to breathe it in I want to lay down and never leave
thats what i think it means.. kinda a line by line interpretation it's just my opinion maybe he intends something completely different but this song is amazing and if you enjoy his music you might want to try simon and garfunkel. alll of rocky's music is riviting to say the least
Beauty. Pain. Regret. Confusion. Pure. Hate. Perfection. Lies. Simplicity. Revenge. Innocence. Power. Death. Life. Forgetting. Remembering. Love. Screaming.
The world is a mixed up place to be, we see everything from the purity of a newborn child to the pain and suffering of a dying old man. This palce that we live in cannot jsut be desceibed in any way, the world is both everything and nothing. It all depeds on your definitions, experiences, views. As human beings we feel everything and see everything, and we have to accept that.
"I have not yet earned the right to die"
This single line changed my perception on life. I have a lot of living to do. It's pushed me back into the world and realize I am far from having my "Death-Right"
Basically, using the same quote as redstar, he is saying that you have to earn your right to die. That everyone who has died has done something right in there life to leave behind. For him, in this song, it is his lover. Them being together made his life complete and now he has the right to die.
A quote from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (no, that's not a misspelling, and yes, it is relevant.):
"Farewell, farewell! but this I tell To thee, thou Wedding-Guest! He prayeth well, who loveth well Both man and bird and beast."
I think this song is about being in the world but not of it; torn between seeing a terrible world and wanting a beautiful one. Happiness only comes from finding the innocence and wonder in the world, and truly living in those brief moments, even if you can't live in others...and living is the act of searching for that innocent thing. Even if you can't find it, you know it's there.
It's wonderful and heartbreaking.