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.
Privileged, a chosen few
Blessed with our time in hell
Witness a divine vision, the day we all fell still
Rapture of the dying age
A shattered hourglass
Wrath of the warring gods and so this too shall pass
It's only getting worse
Not worth a moment's regret
Each dawn another curse, every breath a twisting blade
What will be left behind in the ashes of the wake?
An ill wind blows this way
The edge of the envelope burns
Forbearance and my vengeance
Payment for you intent
Fear and death in the wings
In thrall of those fallen from grace
Petty is as petty does
Witness the mass disgrace
Fear and death in the wings
In thrall of those fallen from grace
Petty is as petty does
Witness the mass disgrace
God forbid you read the signs, watch for meanings between the lines
Gehenna has now arrived, no hindsight for the blind
Your trust has been misplaced, believed the lies told to your face
Became another casualty and now it's too late
You finally made it home
Draped in the flag that you fell for
And so it goes
It's ashes of the wake
It's only getting worse
It's only getting worse
It's only getting worse
It's only getting worse
It's only getting worse
Blessed with our time in hell
Witness a divine vision, the day we all fell still
Rapture of the dying age
A shattered hourglass
Wrath of the warring gods and so this too shall pass
It's only getting worse
Not worth a moment's regret
Each dawn another curse, every breath a twisting blade
What will be left behind in the ashes of the wake?
An ill wind blows this way
The edge of the envelope burns
Forbearance and my vengeance
Payment for you intent
Fear and death in the wings
In thrall of those fallen from grace
Petty is as petty does
Witness the mass disgrace
Fear and death in the wings
In thrall of those fallen from grace
Petty is as petty does
Witness the mass disgrace
God forbid you read the signs, watch for meanings between the lines
Gehenna has now arrived, no hindsight for the blind
Your trust has been misplaced, believed the lies told to your face
Became another casualty and now it's too late
You finally made it home
Draped in the flag that you fell for
And so it goes
It's ashes of the wake
It's only getting worse
It's only getting worse
It's only getting worse
It's only getting worse
It's only getting worse
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
i think its about Dubya's little crusade in the middle east and how the american public has been manipulated by the govenment.
"Witness a divine vision, the day we all fell still Rapture of the dying age, a shattered hourglass" - I believe is a refrence to 9/11. the catalyst or excuse for the invasion of Afganistan, Iraq and god knows where next.
"God forbid you read the signs, watch for meanings between the lines" and "no hindsight for the blind Your trust has been misplaced, believed the lies told to your face" this is the manipulation part. The public has been fooled into living in fear and therefore believeing all the lies fed to them by the govenment, and failing to read betwein the lines and see what the deal realy is. and dieing for thoes lies "You finally made it home, Draped in the flag that you fell for"