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.
Sirens are calling for someone they're on their way
Which house is it gonna be
The wailing and crying comes closer still
It's on our street today
A roll of the dice fate comes a knocking
And takes one more away
For all of their careful planning
Never thought it could end this way
(chorus)
I just want to say I love you
And make sure you feel it every day
'Cause if today had been my last chance
It's just something I wanted to say
Today is not my time to go
Grace has brought us another day
But if tomorrow were to bring my turn
What would I leave unsaid?
What would I leave undone?
What would I leave behind?
(chorus)
x3
Which house is it gonna be
The wailing and crying comes closer still
It's on our street today
A roll of the dice fate comes a knocking
And takes one more away
For all of their careful planning
Never thought it could end this way
(chorus)
I just want to say I love you
And make sure you feel it every day
'Cause if today had been my last chance
It's just something I wanted to say
Today is not my time to go
Grace has brought us another day
But if tomorrow were to bring my turn
What would I leave unsaid?
What would I leave undone?
What would I leave behind?
(chorus)
x3
Lyrics submitted by SCI, edited by walkinginplace
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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This song has an interesting story for me. I stumbled upon it the day I said goodbye to my boyfriend for 3 months during the summer, and it really says what I wanted to get across to him. It means a lot to me, because of coincidence, how I'm feeling, and how badly I can't wait to see him.
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This song is not about The Oddesey. If it helps you communicate with your ex-boyfriend, wonderful. Thats one of those things where you take the meaning however you would like. BUT this song is about how we all die. And furthermore, that we could die at anytime, when we least expect it. Therefor, we should not take anything for granted. Tell your loved ones, that you love them, you may not get another chance. What will you leave unsaid? undone? behind? Life is short, if you die today, will you be happy with these questions? It just wrote to make people not take the gift of life for granted.
I remember a story i read in High school i think it was the Odyssey, and if anyone else has read it, they were out on a ship in the ocean and there were these women, kind of like goddesses, and they called them SIRENS... and these sirens were dangerous because they sang or hummed these certain songs and it drew the men in and they all the sudden died( not sure ho accurate i am on the story that was a long time ago). So if you think about it in the song its like the guy is saying i love you and goodbye because the sirens are calling him in... also "grace has brought us another day" is like him saying oh thank god, you know, i wasn't tempted today... kind of like cheating. i dunno.. just a thought.