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 don't know whose side I'm on
I don't think that I belong 'round here
If I left the stage would that be wrong?
I tried to find myself a better way
I got religion but I went astray
They took my money and I lost my faith
Rain keeps crawling down the glass
The good times never seem to last
Close your eyes and let the thought
Pass
I tried the capsule and I tried the smoke
I tried to aid escape like normal folk
But I never seemed to get the joke
Rain keeps crawling down the glass
The good times never seem to last
Close your eyes and let the thought
Close your eyes and let it pass
(These are my old clothes)
(This is a new low)
(This is my blood flow)
(This is my headstone) ah-ah
I spend my days with all my friends
They're the ones on who my life depends
I'm gonna miss them when the series ends
Rain keeps crawling down the glass
(Pull yourself together)
The good times never seem to last
(You know it's not so bad)
Close your eyes and let the thought
Close your eyes and let it pass
(These are my old clothes)
(This is a new low)
(This is my blood flow)
(This is my headstone) ah-ah
I don't think that I belong 'round here
If I left the stage would that be wrong?
I tried to find myself a better way
I got religion but I went astray
They took my money and I lost my faith
Rain keeps crawling down the glass
The good times never seem to last
Close your eyes and let the thought
Pass
I tried the capsule and I tried the smoke
I tried to aid escape like normal folk
But I never seemed to get the joke
Rain keeps crawling down the glass
The good times never seem to last
Close your eyes and let the thought
Close your eyes and let it pass
(These are my old clothes)
(This is a new low)
(This is my blood flow)
(This is my headstone) ah-ah
I spend my days with all my friends
They're the ones on who my life depends
I'm gonna miss them when the series ends
Rain keeps crawling down the glass
(Pull yourself together)
The good times never seem to last
(You know it's not so bad)
Close your eyes and let the thought
Close your eyes and let it pass
(These are my old clothes)
(This is a new low)
(This is my blood flow)
(This is my headstone) ah-ah
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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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To me this song is about realising your life is stagnating and attempting to do something about it but after making the changes and trying to reinvent yourself you realise that the things you hate most about your life are what's inside you.
I can really relate the the lines:
"I spend my days with all my friends They're the ones on who my life depends I'm gonna miss them when the series ends"
This is certainly about filling the void in your social life with TV programs. It links in with "..I tried the smoke" since stoners will often spend hours vegetating watching TV.... there's a longing for more social interaction but at the same time you feel so disconnected from others and struggle to maintain the friendships that you have.
"These are my old clothes This is a new low"
Also makes me think of the idea of reinventing yourself to try and fit in. Personally I have tried to change my image to fit in more with the people I live with and yet the situations I have found myself in over the past year have made me feel worse... New clothes.. or the shedding of your old ones can't remove your personality traits.
The "Rain keeps crawling down the glass" makes me think of the times when you feel depressed and lethargic and can't bring yourself to do things.. you end up wasting time just sat watching...
I can see the serial killer link in this song.. but at the same time I think this is more about the way that it is easy to subtly kill your own life through inaction and allowing yourself to wallow in your depression and getting hung up over things that you can't change.