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.
1,2,3...
and if I could swim,
I'd swim out to you in the ocean,
swim out to where you were floating,
in the dark,
and if I was blessed,
I'd walk on the water your'e breathin',
to lend you some air for that heavin' sunken chest,
cause they chose you as the model for their empty little dreams,
with your new head and your legs spread like a filthy magazine,
and they hunt you and they gut you and you give in,
and if I was brave,
I'd climb up to you on the mountain,
they led you to drink from their fountain,
spouting lies,
and I'd slay the horrible beast they commissioned,
to steer me away from my mission to your eyes,
and I'd stand there like a soldier with my foot upon his chest,
with my grin spread and my arms out in my bloodstained Sunday's best,
and you'd hold me,
I'd remind you,
who you are, under their shell...
I'd walk through hell for you,
let it burn right through my shoes,
these soles are useless without you,
through hell for you,
let the torturing ensue my soul is useless without you...
and if they send a whirlwind id hug it like a harmless little tree,
or an earthquake,
I'd calm it,
and I'd bring you back to me,
and I'd hold you in my weak arms like a firstborn...
I'd walk through hell for you,
let it burn right through my shoes,
these soles are useless without you,
through hell for you,
let the torturing ensue my soul is useless without you...
Now I'd walk through hell for you.
Whats an adventurer to do but rest these feet at home with you?
and if I could swim,
I'd swim out to you in the ocean,
swim out to where you were floating,
in the dark,
and if I was blessed,
I'd walk on the water your'e breathin',
to lend you some air for that heavin' sunken chest,
cause they chose you as the model for their empty little dreams,
with your new head and your legs spread like a filthy magazine,
and they hunt you and they gut you and you give in,
and if I was brave,
I'd climb up to you on the mountain,
they led you to drink from their fountain,
spouting lies,
and I'd slay the horrible beast they commissioned,
to steer me away from my mission to your eyes,
and I'd stand there like a soldier with my foot upon his chest,
with my grin spread and my arms out in my bloodstained Sunday's best,
and you'd hold me,
I'd remind you,
who you are, under their shell...
I'd walk through hell for you,
let it burn right through my shoes,
these soles are useless without you,
through hell for you,
let the torturing ensue my soul is useless without you...
and if they send a whirlwind id hug it like a harmless little tree,
or an earthquake,
I'd calm it,
and I'd bring you back to me,
and I'd hold you in my weak arms like a firstborn...
I'd walk through hell for you,
let it burn right through my shoes,
these soles are useless without you,
through hell for you,
let the torturing ensue my soul is useless without you...
Now I'd walk through hell for you.
Whats an adventurer to do but rest these feet at home with you?
Lyrics submitted by tjwells, edited by ayla634207, FlyntCoal
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