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.
Watched you float away on a wave of want and misery
Now I've got to find you
I watched you float away on whatever caught your eye
Now I've got to find you
'Cause I've got to keep your head above the water
While the current pulls me under
I will hang my life in the space between the noose and your neck
I won't let you die just yet
I will love you even when you won't let me
And you will kill me by doing nothing
But I know it's not you, my dear
I know it's not you
I know it's not you, my dear,
It's the nothing that kills
Nothing, nothing, nothing
I can't save you
Control is something out of mine
No, I can't save you
Control is something out of my control
I will love you even when you won't let me
And you will kill me by doing nothing
But I know it's not you, my dear
I know it's not you
I know it's not you, my dear, it's the nothing that kills
Nothing, nothing, nothing
I can't save you but I will love you
No, I can't save you but I will love you
I'd like to think that this is love
Lost in second chances without end
This is romance
This is romance
I would like to think that this my lost in second chances without end
I would like to think that this is love lost
Second chances without end
Now I've got to find you
I watched you float away on whatever caught your eye
Now I've got to find you
'Cause I've got to keep your head above the water
While the current pulls me under
I will hang my life in the space between the noose and your neck
I won't let you die just yet
I will love you even when you won't let me
And you will kill me by doing nothing
But I know it's not you, my dear
I know it's not you
I know it's not you, my dear,
It's the nothing that kills
Nothing, nothing, nothing
I can't save you
Control is something out of mine
No, I can't save you
Control is something out of my control
I will love you even when you won't let me
And you will kill me by doing nothing
But I know it's not you, my dear
I know it's not you
I know it's not you, my dear, it's the nothing that kills
Nothing, nothing, nothing
I can't save you but I will love you
No, I can't save you but I will love you
I'd like to think that this is love
Lost in second chances without end
This is romance
This is romance
I would like to think that this my lost in second chances without end
I would like to think that this is love lost
Second chances without end
Lyrics submitted by DarkerShadeofWinter, edited by iluvsagwa
Of Want And Misery: The Nothing That Kills Lyrics as written by Cody Bonnette
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Beautiful song. ACB never ceases to amaze me
I disagree with the fact that this song is about God, I believe it is to do with the person singing, simply because it says "control is something out of my control" ultimately God is sovereign is salvation and it isn't out of His control. In fact man is never saved by doing anything. It's all an act of God, but at the same time man has a responsibility to respond to it. So I believe this song is this:<br /> <br /> The person singing, is talking about someone he apparently loves, whether its a family member, or whatever is irrelevant. He is saying that no matter what the best he can do is love this person to show God's Grace to them, because the singer himself cannot save the person for them, although he wishes he could because he's seen them sink in misery and want to kill themselves, but he refuses to let them and encourages them, but the person he is trying to lead to Christ won't accept the message he is conveying to them. They simply do "nothing" and it grieves the person singing. But he will continue to love them and if they ever come back to him with questions regarding salvation he will be there to help them because he loves them, and that is what true love is, his willingness to help them realize they need God even when they rebuked the singer, and wanted nothing to do with his beliefs.
I think this song is more about anyone that you care for. It's about having a loved one, whether it's a friend or a family member or a significant other, that is stuck in sin. This person is stuck in trouble and you've tried your hardest to save them from their trouble; you've gone through so much to pull them out of the hole that they've dug for themself.
I think that the song is really about coming to that realization that you can't save anyone else, you can only love them. That no matter how much effort you put into someone you can't keep them from making their own choices; they have to change themselves in the end.
So, while I agree that God does give us a million chances, I don't think that those last lines are refering to God. I think that the writer is coming to the conclusion that giving someone a million chances isn't always loving them the right way. That sometimes you have to let someone pick themselves back up for them to come out right.
And anyways, i think there is a huge difference between love and romance; that's why the writer would LIKE to think that that's love, but it's only romance.
I can really relate to this song. It's about someone he loves that is selrf destructive, perhaps physically or emotionally. Because of his great love for the person, he tries to save her and her self-destruction kilkls him inside. Eventually he realizes that he can't save her, but instead of abandoning her, he promises to continue loving her, regardless of his own misery. And this misery, these "second chances without end" are what the world calls "romance".
I like to think of as cities burn, Not with god relations. But real relations, With actual people. It's a lot more powerful to me, And hits my heart more. I like this song, Especially the last few words.
I just love this song! Especially the beginning.. I think Song of Songs was closest with the meaning of the song. ... "Cause I've got to keep your head, above the water. While the current pulls me under." Brilliant! Ah
I really feel I can connect with this song... my best friend of 10 years used to be a devoted believe in Christ along beside me, but about a year ago he started drifting away... instead of worshiping the God of this world he instead worships the world and has turned his back for partying.
The noose and neck part reminds me of his addiction to smoking whatever he can get his hands on.. he has many respiratory problems and the cigarettes and all the smoke is killing him. He doesn't want help, and honestly I hate who he is now but I can't let go.
After just hearing this song, it reminds me that I can't take this burden alone... it's all in Gods hands and all I can do is love him and show him Gods love and pray and hope that he comes back, not just for my sake but for his.
All I know right now is I want my friend back......
can someone please post this song up to listen to so i can add it to my myspace??? i love as cities burn and this song!!!!!!
"lost in second chances without end this is romance" i couldn't agree more. fucking powerful lyrics. wow. beautiful, beautiful song.
Love this song. My favourite on the album by far...
I feel exactly like the band member that wrote this...
Song of Songs has it right...
"i'd like to think that this is love lost in second chances without end this is romance"
Though this whole song is obviously about a girl the last three lines remind me totally of Gods love. and no matter how many times we mess up, he will always take us back.