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've got problems,
I'm gonna use them.
I'm gonna keep them from you 'til you cry.
I've got machine guns,
I never shoot them,
I only borrowed them in case we die.
Late nights, play fights,
I'm freezing and you're leaving me here.
Blue and red up I'm fed, you're upset almost dead, tongue twisted.
35 nightmares and 94 days since I got near you and your anxious ways,
Hey darling, let's steal it,
I'm certain you're sure,
Spell it to me love.
And as we planned there's fireworks, stage right,
They're swallowing the brains of all in sight,
It's 1am, that's the evening your time,
We're counting sheep,
Sell it to me, love.
Leave it while it still smolders,
So I'll have to say I told you,
I carved our names in a tree there,
I meant the letters to be bolder, bolder,
Around the angles there's a race,
Where silver never gets golder,
And baby when we get older,
We don't have to get colder.
I'm gonna use them.
I'm gonna keep them from you 'til you cry.
I've got machine guns,
I never shoot them,
I only borrowed them in case we die.
Late nights, play fights,
I'm freezing and you're leaving me here.
Blue and red up I'm fed, you're upset almost dead, tongue twisted.
35 nightmares and 94 days since I got near you and your anxious ways,
Hey darling, let's steal it,
I'm certain you're sure,
Spell it to me love.
And as we planned there's fireworks, stage right,
They're swallowing the brains of all in sight,
It's 1am, that's the evening your time,
We're counting sheep,
Sell it to me, love.
Leave it while it still smolders,
So I'll have to say I told you,
I carved our names in a tree there,
I meant the letters to be bolder, bolder,
Around the angles there's a race,
Where silver never gets golder,
And baby when we get older,
We don't have to get colder.
Lyrics submitted by satori-birdy
In Case We Die (parts 1-4) Lyrics as written by Cameron Bird Bird
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I saw this a bit differently. I think this is about a crazy relationship where they're in love but they fight all the time and manipulate eachother. Let me explain.
Person 1: "i've got problems i'm gonna use them i'm gonna keep them from you until you cry" --> Person 1 has issues... trust, etc. It's going to F up the relationship. Person 2:"got machine guns I never shoot them I only borrowed them in case we die" --> Person 2 knows some things, (machine guns) about person 1's past or whatever. Doesn't reveal this knowledge but keeps it as a weapon in case they break up (die)
"late nights play fights i'm freezing and you're leaving me here blue and red, up i'm fed, you're upset, almost dead, tounge twisted" ---> They have some good times together, late nights. They start having play fights. They start having real fights. Next line, they're almost over (dead). "Blue and Red" = Sad and mad. "tongue twisted" = doesn't know what to say, how to fix it. His tongue is tied to fight anymore.
"35 nightmares & 94 days since i got near you and your anxious ways hey darling, lets steal it i'm certain you're sure spell it to me love" --> He's having nightmares from jealousy, trust issues etc (like in the beginning when she had the issues but was going to give them to him). He's certain she's in love with him, and makes her explain her love so he can be sure. ex: why do you love me?
"and as we planned, there's fireworks stage right swallowing the brains of all in sight it's 1am that's evening your time we're counting sheep sell it to me, yell it to me LOVE" --> the climax of the song (so epic!). The fireworks stage right is a seemingly scripted, unavoidable final blowout between the two. The emotions take over, neither are thinking rationally (with their brain). It's 1 am which is still early for her. They can't get to sleep, she's trying to tell him what love is (spell it to me) and convincing him that they're in it (sell it to me) despite all this mess of a relationship.
"leave it while it still smoulders so I have to say I told you I carved our names in a tree there I meant the letters to be bolder around the angles there's a race where silver never gets golder maybe when we get older (baby when we get older) we don't have to get colder, colder"--> The relationship is over although there are still feelings of love (leave it while it still smolders). When he fell in love with her (carved their names in a tree) he meant it to mean more and last longer (meant the letters to be bolder). He may have physically done this as well but its still a metaphor. They had a silver (second rate, possibly tarnished) relationship they were just waiting and hoping would turn to gold, but he realized that doesn't happen. He hopes that they don't stop being close friends now that they have gone separate ways.
I LOVE THIS SONG