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.
What happens when a match is lit
The fire will brew
Traces of smoke
Representing a whole bunch
of forgotten reasons
When the trigger is pulled
Is the fault
the finger who pulls
or the gun that fires
It's a large vault
jammed full of petty reasons
CHORUS:
It's a disciplined breakdown
To let yourself down
But in a conspired sequence
Just when it gets tense
The fall comes around
Whose the fall guy when a string
shatters its hold
Is it the one who pulls the weak end
Or is it the one who broke its hold
With one snap, everything falls cold
At any cost, it would subside
All of this is suicide
(CHORUS)
The match is on its last burn
The gun is on its last shot
The thread is on its last strain
And everythings breaking
But its almost like a conspiracy
Against your own self
The tables will begin to turn
And I won't be able to sustain
All of this pain
(CHORUS)
The fire will brew
Traces of smoke
Representing a whole bunch
of forgotten reasons
When the trigger is pulled
Is the fault
the finger who pulls
or the gun that fires
It's a large vault
jammed full of petty reasons
CHORUS:
It's a disciplined breakdown
To let yourself down
But in a conspired sequence
Just when it gets tense
The fall comes around
Whose the fall guy when a string
shatters its hold
Is it the one who pulls the weak end
Or is it the one who broke its hold
With one snap, everything falls cold
At any cost, it would subside
All of this is suicide
(CHORUS)
The match is on its last burn
The gun is on its last shot
The thread is on its last strain
And everythings breaking
But its almost like a conspiracy
Against your own self
The tables will begin to turn
And I won't be able to sustain
All of this pain
(CHORUS)
Lyrics submitted by Chris Dixon
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