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.
This war is cold and silent
Our love has turned to violence
You've got three years to die for something
You've got three years to live for something
This war is warm and vibrant
Our love has turned to silence
You've got two months to tell him something
You've got two months to tell him something
And if you love him, let him know
And if you leave him, tell him so
Or you will break his heart in two
And if you love him, let him know
Or if you leave him, tell him so
Or you will break his heart in two
This war is cold and silent
Our love has turned to violence
You've got two months to tell him something
You've got two months to tell him something
And if you love him, let him know
Or if you leave him, tell him so
Or you will break his heart in two
Our love has turned to violence
You've got three years to die for something
You've got three years to live for something
This war is warm and vibrant
Our love has turned to silence
You've got two months to tell him something
You've got two months to tell him something
And if you love him, let him know
And if you leave him, tell him so
Or you will break his heart in two
And if you love him, let him know
Or if you leave him, tell him so
Or you will break his heart in two
This war is cold and silent
Our love has turned to violence
You've got two months to tell him something
You've got two months to tell him something
And if you love him, let him know
Or if you leave him, tell him so
Or you will break his heart in two
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Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Sabblepaws and Ndoc are right. You people over-think things WAY too much.
How has no one commented? Such an amazing song from an amazing first album.. this one and 'Blood On Our Hands' are definetly my favourites.
"And if you love let him know Or if you leave him tell him so Or you will break his heart in two"
True verse, true verse
awesome, awesome song, the lyrics are good. I love 'blood on our hands' too.
the war that they talk about probably is refferin to this akward tension that these 2 individuals that just cannot seem to express their love for one another, it either has to result to violence or silence
And if you love let him know Or if you leave him tell him so Or you will break his heart in two
That is reffering to the wife or woman's choice to either stay in the relationship or her real choice to leave the man but if she does leave him he will be hurt-sick song tho
alanna this is not their first album obviously their first albums was Head's Up! now this album is youre a woman im a machine duhh
^^you are such a tool... just thought id point that out.
Does anyone have an idea why he references "Three years" as the time frame? I was thinking originally that this might be about George W's term mending in three years from the time when this song was written but that doesn't make much sense since the band's from Toronto. Any ideas?
Does anyone have an idea why he references "Three years" as the time frame? I was thinking originally that this might be about George W's term mending in three years from the time when this song was written but that doesn't make much sense since the band's from Toronto. Any ideas?
well just becuz the band is canadian doesnt mean they cant make a song about the warrs an stuff but mahbe its like writing from a soldiers perspective view like the first part would meann that goin into iraq and killing people in there and stuff has madet he war cold and silent making love for their country into violence for no good reason and now he has 3 years to live or die for something he prob doesnt agree withh well yeahh u kno what i mean with that kinda theme to the song u can make up ur own meaning using that