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.
When I first came to this island
That I called by my own name
I was happy in this fortress
In my exile I remained
But the hours grew so empty
And the ocean sent her waves
In the figure of a woman
And she pulled me out to sea
Oh oh when you come down to take me home
Oh oh send my soul away
Oh oh when you come round you'll make me whole
Oh oh send my soul away
On the altar of a sunrise
Was a wedding in the waves
And inside her shown a young light
From her labor I was saved
Though I've traveled long in darkness
In her harvest I'm embraced
Oh oh when you come down to take me home
Oh oh send my soul away
Oh oh when you come round you'll make me whole
Oh oh send my soul away
Now the spires and gables
Grow in orchards to the sky
And the blessings on the table
Multiply and divide
Oh oh when you come down to take me home
Oh oh send my soul away
Oh oh when you come round you'll make me whole
Oh oh send my soul away
Yeah, when you come down to take me home
When you come round you'll make me whole
When you come round to take me home
Send my soul away
Send my soul away
Send my soul away
Send my soul away
That I called by my own name
I was happy in this fortress
In my exile I remained
But the hours grew so empty
And the ocean sent her waves
In the figure of a woman
And she pulled me out to sea
Oh oh when you come down to take me home
Oh oh send my soul away
Oh oh when you come round you'll make me whole
Oh oh send my soul away
On the altar of a sunrise
Was a wedding in the waves
And inside her shown a young light
From her labor I was saved
Though I've traveled long in darkness
In her harvest I'm embraced
Oh oh when you come down to take me home
Oh oh send my soul away
Oh oh when you come round you'll make me whole
Oh oh send my soul away
Now the spires and gables
Grow in orchards to the sky
And the blessings on the table
Multiply and divide
Oh oh when you come down to take me home
Oh oh send my soul away
Oh oh when you come round you'll make me whole
Oh oh send my soul away
Yeah, when you come down to take me home
When you come round you'll make me whole
When you come round to take me home
Send my soul away
Send my soul away
Send my soul away
Send my soul away
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
It trully is about Odyssey. Or rather it shape the sea, the voyage - the Odyssey - as a woman. Then it makes reference to Odyssey's wife - essentially the love of his life. At the end he is back from his voyage and everything is fantastic. However in the real Homerus' work, Odyssey is killed by his own son years after that by his own son of his former lover: the nymph Calypso. Which isn't elaborated in a lyric, but what the hell... The tune is great nonetheless! :))