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.
Now that you've heard the music
Where do you go from here
You see music only takes you to the place
Where you're ready to hear
we could sing and tell you we love you
And you could say it wasn't true
But how can you say that about a man
Who died for you
[Chorus]
Jesus is holding out his love to you
But he made it so that you have to choose
How can you walk away empty again
When you know that you've got nothing to lose
You could probably think of a reason
To wait until another day
But the spirit is speaking, telling you
Today is the day
Jesus gave his life as a ransom
Was crucified and laid in a grave
But he rose again and made a new way
For man to be saved
[Chorus]
Where do you go from here
You see music only takes you to the place
Where you're ready to hear
we could sing and tell you we love you
And you could say it wasn't true
But how can you say that about a man
Who died for you
[Chorus]
Jesus is holding out his love to you
But he made it so that you have to choose
How can you walk away empty again
When you know that you've got nothing to lose
You could probably think of a reason
To wait until another day
But the spirit is speaking, telling you
Today is the day
Jesus gave his life as a ransom
Was crucified and laid in a grave
But he rose again and made a new way
For man to be saved
[Chorus]
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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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“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.