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.
Two young lovers
With their bodies on fire
Aching to swim that river of desire. Leavin' innocence there
On the bank by their clothes
A man holding on
To a woman letting go
There's a man with a bottle
On the other side of town
Swimmin' with a memory
That he can't drown
Lord, it ain't sunk in
That she ain't comin' home
Oh a man holdin' on
To a woman lettin' go
His heart is tellin' him
To hang on for dear life
'Cause deep down he knows
She's lettin' go for good this time
There's a daddy walking
His daughter down the aisle
Fightin' back tears and forcin' a smile
Oh for twenty two years
He's watched her grow
A man holdin' on
To a woman lettin' go
In the Hill Valley Home
There's a feeble old man
And he's holdin' on
To a fragile old hand
And the angels are coming
To carry her home
Now he's a man holdin' on
To a woman lettin' go
His heart is tellin' him
To hang on for dear life
'Cause deep down he knows
She's lettin' go for good this time
Two young lovers
With their bodies on fire
Achin' to swim that river of desire
Leavin innocence there
On the bank by their clothes
A man holdin' on
To a woman lettin' go
A man holdin' on
To a woman lettin' go
With their bodies on fire
Aching to swim that river of desire. Leavin' innocence there
On the bank by their clothes
A man holding on
To a woman letting go
There's a man with a bottle
On the other side of town
Swimmin' with a memory
That he can't drown
Lord, it ain't sunk in
That she ain't comin' home
Oh a man holdin' on
To a woman lettin' go
His heart is tellin' him
To hang on for dear life
'Cause deep down he knows
She's lettin' go for good this time
There's a daddy walking
His daughter down the aisle
Fightin' back tears and forcin' a smile
Oh for twenty two years
He's watched her grow
A man holdin' on
To a woman lettin' go
In the Hill Valley Home
There's a feeble old man
And he's holdin' on
To a fragile old hand
And the angels are coming
To carry her home
Now he's a man holdin' on
To a woman lettin' go
His heart is tellin' him
To hang on for dear life
'Cause deep down he knows
She's lettin' go for good this time
Two young lovers
With their bodies on fire
Achin' to swim that river of desire
Leavin innocence there
On the bank by their clothes
A man holdin' on
To a woman lettin' go
A man holdin' on
To a woman lettin' go
Lyrics submitted by Shattered Dreams
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
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,
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
This song to me means that a man is fighting with all his might to hang on to a girl he loves. He's doing everything he can possibly do to hold on to the one he really and truly loves. But she's letting go of the love that they do have.