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.
It would simply say everything,
If you would, take a pen and
Write my name on friend,
Who never cared to let me inâ?¦
Then take a fast ravine,
That for three years swimmin' straight up stream,
And the wind,
The wind will drag me down in the endâ?¦
You live inside my wall, and I,
I reach back and hit you harder than God fallsâ?¦
Christ amen, amen, amenâ?¦
You're such a line to break, but I'm,
I'm so scared to make a fucking mistake
In the endâ?¦
But I just want to be happy again,
Againâ?¦.
Until it all falls down,
And where does that leave me?
With things, things,
I've got so many things to sayâ?¦
And with a broken heart,
And a straight face,
I'm saying brotherâ?¦
Help meâ?¦
Brother would you help me?
It's just a natural phase that I,
I go through, and then it's taken away,
And then bam, bam I'm fixed,
I'm fixed, I'm fixed, I'm fixedâ?¦
But I'm in another place to be where I,
I can't sleep without the thought
Of me being so,
So damn sick,
But I'm sick, I'm sick, I'm sickâ?¦
So take this song, take this song awayâ?¦
Until it all falls down,
And where does that leave me?
With things, things,
I've got so many things to sayâ?¦
And with a broken heart, and a straight faceâ?¦
And he always said,
Reach for the girl, reach for the girl,
And hold her closeâ?¦
Believe you can shine when you're silver,
And I promise you gold,
I promise you goldâ?¦
And whenever you're dark inside,
Don't let goâ?¦
Remember there's rain,
And there's candy,
And Christmasy winter snow,
The snow, the snowâ?¦
And remember I love you the same,
And I'll strangle your painâ?¦
And he tells me to sing,
So I sing, and I sing for my brother,
Who keeps me sane,
And tells me everything will be,
Okayâ?¦
I'm never alone,
No I'm never alone,
I'm not alone,
Not aloneâ?¦
If you would, take a pen and
Write my name on friend,
Who never cared to let me inâ?¦
Then take a fast ravine,
That for three years swimmin' straight up stream,
And the wind,
The wind will drag me down in the endâ?¦
You live inside my wall, and I,
I reach back and hit you harder than God fallsâ?¦
Christ amen, amen, amenâ?¦
You're such a line to break, but I'm,
I'm so scared to make a fucking mistake
In the endâ?¦
But I just want to be happy again,
Againâ?¦.
Until it all falls down,
And where does that leave me?
With things, things,
I've got so many things to sayâ?¦
And with a broken heart,
And a straight face,
I'm saying brotherâ?¦
Help meâ?¦
Brother would you help me?
It's just a natural phase that I,
I go through, and then it's taken away,
And then bam, bam I'm fixed,
I'm fixed, I'm fixed, I'm fixedâ?¦
But I'm in another place to be where I,
I can't sleep without the thought
Of me being so,
So damn sick,
But I'm sick, I'm sick, I'm sickâ?¦
So take this song, take this song awayâ?¦
Until it all falls down,
And where does that leave me?
With things, things,
I've got so many things to sayâ?¦
And with a broken heart, and a straight faceâ?¦
And he always said,
Reach for the girl, reach for the girl,
And hold her closeâ?¦
Believe you can shine when you're silver,
And I promise you gold,
I promise you goldâ?¦
And whenever you're dark inside,
Don't let goâ?¦
Remember there's rain,
And there's candy,
And Christmasy winter snow,
The snow, the snowâ?¦
And remember I love you the same,
And I'll strangle your painâ?¦
And he tells me to sing,
So I sing, and I sing for my brother,
Who keeps me sane,
And tells me everything will be,
Okayâ?¦
I'm never alone,
No I'm never alone,
I'm not alone,
Not aloneâ?¦
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Amazing
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I think the first person who had commented on this is WAY off. This song is about a guy who simply cant get his life together. He has so many problems he has delt with and its hard for him to cope in this life. But one thing that has always been a constant in his life is his brother. His brother held him together when he just wanted to fall apart. He reminds him the good things on life "Remember there's rain and there's candy and Christmasy winter snow" That no matter how bad it gets that he will always have his brother right at his side and is willing to do anything to help. This song is just about a guy who has someone he can always count on no matter what.
I can't believe this. no one has written anything!! Come on people! This song is about a guy who hates his brother but he is having trouble with his girlfriend (sounds like the broke up). The guy finally decides to ask his brother for help even though he finds it hard to do.
His writing blows me away. What does anyone know about him?
i don't know if the first person was kidding, but this song is not about someone who hates their brother. Its about someone who turns to his brother when he is down. He feels guilty for bringing his brother down with him by burdening him with his problems. This is like a thank you to his brother slash I'm in a really dark place right now and i need to write it out.
YES he is Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October. In my opinion, the greatest writer on earth. And his brother is his best friend-who helped him through sooo much of his shit.
first guy was way off! and raggedrug you got it wrong too(but not as much as the first guy) its about him going through so much stuff and asking his brother for help and his brother helps him through it all and then his brother tells him to sing and he sings for his brother like a thank you(now that I think about it you werent that wrond raggedrug)
Just as an interesting fact, his brother is Jeremy Furstenfeld, the drummer for Blue October.
Well, this song is obviously about his brother. But~ I think that it's about Justin having a bad time in life and is depending on his brother. But- I also think that this is about his brother dying and him remembering or something..? I could be interpreting that wrong. But either way, its a beautiful piece.
No no. I take back my comment about his brother dying. ._. I didn't pay close enough attention to the song.
I actually get a little choked up on the live AWAT version at the "tells me to sing, so I sing, for my brother who keeps me sane..."part. If it weren't for Jeremy, we wouldn't all get to experience Justin's art.