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.
I'm in envy of addicts,
you're obsessed with stars.
Dont, dont you sound so excited,
showing me your vanity.
Whisper it once, just a little bit.
C'mon whisper it twice,
I cant stand to see the spotlight shine one more night.
Its killing me to see you.
Just tie the rope and kick the chair. Just leave me hanging there,
gasping for air yeah,
dont mind me three feet from the ceiling.
And i think i know why you never get to close.
It's cause youre too scared to.
When im with you theres no point in breathing.
You'd rather watch me drown,
then see your hands get wet.
You took the plot from stage to screen,
and turned it to an epic scene.
So whisper it once, tell me again.
C'mon whisper it twice,
I cant stand to see my whole life flah before my eyes.
When im with you theres no point in breathing.
No point in breathing
Just tie the rope and kick the chair. Just leave me hanging there,
gasping for air yeah,
dont mind me three feet from the ceiling.
And i think i know why you never get to close.
It's cause youre too scared to.
When im with you theres no point in breathing.
So, so you run away for no apparent reason,
cause you and i are changing with the seasons.
Don't give me an answer as to why youre leaving.
The tables are full but nobodys been dealing,
so fold your hand
C'mon and fold your hand
Just tie the rope and kick the chair. Just leave me hanging there,
gasping for air yeah,
dont mind me three feet from the ceiling.
And i think i know why you never get to close.
It's cause youre too scared to.
When im with you theres no point in breathing.
you're obsessed with stars.
Dont, dont you sound so excited,
showing me your vanity.
Whisper it once, just a little bit.
C'mon whisper it twice,
I cant stand to see the spotlight shine one more night.
Its killing me to see you.
Just tie the rope and kick the chair. Just leave me hanging there,
gasping for air yeah,
dont mind me three feet from the ceiling.
And i think i know why you never get to close.
It's cause youre too scared to.
When im with you theres no point in breathing.
You'd rather watch me drown,
then see your hands get wet.
You took the plot from stage to screen,
and turned it to an epic scene.
So whisper it once, tell me again.
C'mon whisper it twice,
I cant stand to see my whole life flah before my eyes.
When im with you theres no point in breathing.
No point in breathing
Just tie the rope and kick the chair. Just leave me hanging there,
gasping for air yeah,
dont mind me three feet from the ceiling.
And i think i know why you never get to close.
It's cause youre too scared to.
When im with you theres no point in breathing.
So, so you run away for no apparent reason,
cause you and i are changing with the seasons.
Don't give me an answer as to why youre leaving.
The tables are full but nobodys been dealing,
so fold your hand
C'mon and fold your hand
Just tie the rope and kick the chair. Just leave me hanging there,
gasping for air yeah,
dont mind me three feet from the ceiling.
And i think i know why you never get to close.
It's cause youre too scared to.
When im with you theres no point in breathing.
Lyrics submitted by jessay
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First off, the format has some serious shoes to fill with their upcoming album... Aright onto the song meaning... what's great about music is its timing. and the timing for me "discovering" this song couldn't have been more appropriate.
"I'm in envy of addicts, you're obsessed with stars. Dont, dont you sound so excited, showing me your vanity. Whisper it once, just a little bit. C'mon whisper it twice, I cant stand to see the spotlight shine one more night. Its killing me to see you"
-ok the first verse, in my opinion, pretty much illustrates a one-sided interpretation of a relationship. He's basically saying in the first line that he's envious of relationships where people can seem addicted to one another. so he's envious of this thing that he's been searching for and that thing is a girl that he connects with well. but she's obsessed with stars meaning that she's looking way more outward at her surroundings than what is standing right in front of her. So the guy slips and tells her he has feelings for her, and she basically takes it as just that. no return feelings are shown though she may have said them...which could very easily be viewed as vanity. of course she is going to be excited that she knows someone cares about her. the "whisper it once...twice" i think means her responding by saying those 3 little words. sure she could say it once but if she says it the second time without hesitation then the guy feels like this is worth it...but unfortunately all he wants to hear is her say these words and mean them but since she either can't or won't then it's killing him.
"Just tie the rope and kick the chair. Just leave me hanging there, gasping for air yeah, dont mind me three feet from the ceiling. And i think i know why you never get to close. It's cause youre too scared to. When im with you theres no point in breathing."
-now we hit the chorus which is both sarcastic and COULD lead to a literal situation. the saying have you ever loved someone it hurts comes to mind here. he is basically saying "you don't realize what kind of hold you have on me." you basically have control of my life and you don't even know it. so since you have this control how about you just go ahead and kill me but don't make it quick because like this situation the ends have to justify the means so let's make it as painful as possible - ie gasping for air.. but then just as she has control over his heart/whatever... and she can destroy it... and he realizes this , he still says that when he's around her he forgets everything including the very fundamental neccessity of life- breathing. during the chorus he also illustrates that she's scared of commitment because of past relationships which is why she never gets close to anyone. she loves the chase and that is it because her ultimate fear is settling, not being alone.
"You'd rather watch me drown, then see your hands get wet. You took the plot from stage to screen, and turned it to an epic scene. So whisper it once, tell me again. C'mon whisper it twice, I cant stand to see my whole life flah before my eyes. When im with you theres no point in breathing. No point in breathing"
-the first line could mean something along the lines of the girl almost thrives on the pain that the guy is going through for her. this might be because she's never had someone do this for her, yet she has been down this road plenty of times and understands what pain the guy is feeling feels like. then it gets to the part about you've taken this plot from stage to screen and made it into an epic scene... how many times have directors ruined books or plays by trying to exaggerate/ruin a good plot. she could love the attention that this simple plot has turned into. ie: the guy and the girl starting as friends and something happens to where things have undoubtedly changed. next we have the guys just wanting to hear the words that he has uttered to her numerous times and meant it. he just wants to hear those 3 words. but much like love and death relate to each other and sometimes have double meanings so does the next line , " I can't stand my whole life flash before my eyes." the only time i've heard of people's lives flashing before their eyes are either when they have a near-death experience or the realize they love someone and everything in their lives really doesn't matter (past,present or future) as long as they have this feeling. and then dude utters when i'm with you there's no chance in breathing, no chance in breathing. which again illustrates the fact that she has control of his life and his heart because he inadvertantly gave her this control when he uttered the 3 words.
"So, so you run away for no apparent reason, cause you and i are changing with the seasons. Don't give me an answer as to why youre leaving. The tables are full but nobodys been dealing, so fold your hand C'mon and fold your hand"
-so in response to this love the guy has for her she tries to write him off completely because it is overwhelming her and she just wants to have "fun." the changing of seasons is a reference to accept change. and in this case accept the connection that they both have. unfortunately in many cases it's one-sided. "don't give me an answer..." dude's basically saying i don't want an excuse. you know it and i know it, so what are you afraid of (just fold your hand). just give in...
and then we go back to the chorus...
so yea i have no idea if this is what the singer was trying to get across but music singers are considered artists and so therefore music is art. and the single-greatest thing about art is what it is deals with your opinion and no1 else's. there is no wrong interpretation. I don't know i just had to write about this song because it's so incredibly relative to my life now...
Freakin, i love this song
holy crap as i was just reading these lyrics it hit me "Just tie the rope and kick the chair. Just leave me hanging there, gasping for air yeah, dont mind me three feet from the ceiling." that is about someone hanging him. wow i never realized that.
yeah, golly, the whole tying of the rope and kicking of the chair, including the part about the gasping for air really throws you for a loop. i thought he was referring to a beautiful day at the beach with friends and a rope swing.
yeah, the start rocks.."it's killing me to see you"...so he hangs himself :S
Just saw these guys on tour with thrice.... i thought they were the best band there so i picked up their cd.
these guys toured with thrice? does that strike anyone else as odd? dashboard toured with thrice too...wierd
this song is great.
The girl is obviously killing him, and I think he's saying that there's no use in trying because he gets nowhere or worse than nowhere-death. she's hanging him. she doesn't seem to care either, she'd let him die so she doesn't get dirty. she doesn't care about him & turns things into a big production.
LOVE this song...i first heard it as i walked into a show, the format was playing, and after hearing like a minute of this song i decided i NEEDED to get the cd afterwards