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.
I was looking down at you
Smiling up at me
For once I held you tight
But shadowed hands grabbed at me
Your head was in the clouds
Now those clouds are in your head
That's when you needed me
So I listened to what you said
Look another year went bye
They keep passing by
God damn I didn't even die
Too old and slow I have grown
I fought time but lost
It was love like a callus
You scarred enough to be
Tough and immune
Your body adapts, you see
To all above my head
and all below my feet
No, that's one freedom you will never take from me
To criticize and judge
How did I end up here
With these standards I'm forced to love
Make me disappear (hold tight)
Smiling up at me
For once I held you tight
But shadowed hands grabbed at me
Your head was in the clouds
Now those clouds are in your head
That's when you needed me
So I listened to what you said
Look another year went bye
They keep passing by
God damn I didn't even die
Too old and slow I have grown
I fought time but lost
It was love like a callus
You scarred enough to be
Tough and immune
Your body adapts, you see
To all above my head
and all below my feet
No, that's one freedom you will never take from me
To criticize and judge
How did I end up here
With these standards I'm forced to love
Make me disappear (hold tight)
Lyrics submitted by christsizeshoes, edited by zealant, sinkingboat
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“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.
I think that people are too quick to write off newer music. Just because it's new or the songs are shorter or harder or whatever the case may be, doesn't mean that the music has been compromised. In an interview, Gavin, the singer, has said that the band worked on this album more, they care more about the writing, they tried harder, they wanted a great album and they feel that they got that. It's easy to start with an album like Leitmotif or El Cielo and just become so attached to it that you almost feel like you shouldn't like the new music as much, but give it a chance. This song isn't very "dredg" but I think that's what makes it interesting. To me it is a very touching song, I can't exactly get what the meaning is, but I know it has made me feel connected to it. I love the simile "love like a callous", for some reason it just calls to me. And when Gavin says "Hold tight" it gives me strength, it reaffrims the fact that I have something to do on this Earth and that if I just "hold tight" I will be able to accomplish something great. I also enjoy the "I've fought time but lost" part. I think everyone at some point feels like that. Like I said, I don't know what Gavin's meaning behind the song was, but those are some of the things I can identify with. Since the title is Matroshka, those little Russian dolls, it could possibly play on the idea of many facets; things within things.