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 undressed you with my eyes I have
Maybe even raped you
In a dark and eerie corner of my mind
I tucked you there
And touched you in a dream last night
Pushed you aside when you entered
My thoughts at the wrong time
I have sat up upon your lap and
Saddled my thighs around your hips like ropes
I rode you on a chair and in the shower
And all the while I clung heavy to your back
My desire deeply harnessed in your spine
While I squeezed you like a tree trunk
You may have been one
Sexless and comfort in your mind
Even barer than a child's
I'm riding recklessly through a thick and humid
Jungle growing anxious with the deep and primal
Yearning that stirs
Deeply pulsing up toward the surface
Like sap rising or honey or tar
Maybe even raped you
In a dark and eerie corner of my mind
I tucked you there
And touched you in a dream last night
Pushed you aside when you entered
My thoughts at the wrong time
I have sat up upon your lap and
Saddled my thighs around your hips like ropes
I rode you on a chair and in the shower
And all the while I clung heavy to your back
My desire deeply harnessed in your spine
While I squeezed you like a tree trunk
You may have been one
Sexless and comfort in your mind
Even barer than a child's
I'm riding recklessly through a thick and humid
Jungle growing anxious with the deep and primal
Yearning that stirs
Deeply pulsing up toward the surface
Like sap rising or honey or tar
Lyrics submitted by softasfire
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
It just makes me think of everytime i've fantasized about someone. No guilt, no haunting, just pure pleasure and yearning.
ohhh wow. well this really changes things for me see instead of: "Sexless and comfort in your mind Even barer than a child's"
I have been hearing: "Sexless and comforting You might have even been, been a child"
I am pretty relieved right now, this song is much less ominous than I thought it was. Not that I disprove of Cocorosie's ominosity or anything but.. I'm glad I can love this song and not feel too messed up.
That's what I've always heard too, and I listened back to make sure I wasn't wrong, and we're definitely not. they are most undeniably saying "might have" and the rest can be heard too. <br /> theres no reason to feel "messed up" for liking this song though.. <br /> I personally love the lyric. It just deeply demonstrates the flowing, rather obsessed, a bit out of control fantasy. Shamelessly giving us every detail. I think it's beautiful.
@pocketvision I was always pretty sure it said that and it made me feel messed up too and kind of tainted the song song for me. I re-listened and I'm still not sure, I don't know if Cocorosie released any official lyrics on their website or if it was included in the physical copy of the album.<br /> <br /> I started to think more deeper about it and IF it does infact say this, I think it could be more about when adults think back to their younger days and reminisce.<br /> As an example, I'm thinking of when people over a certain age tell you of their first sexual experiences and still recall those experiences like they have just happened. They ARE thinking of a young person sexually, but thats due to them also being a child at the time, yet they are now an adult, so I think maybe its about the lapse in the mind. Elderly people saying ' Well I still feel 16 inside'<br /> I think it could also be about when you have known people since childhood and your feelings/thoughts about them as you grow older can almost become 'ageless' because the first seeds were planted during your childhoods, when the first bonds happened, so in a sense you can see ALL aspects of them. That does not happen when you meet someone as an adult as your memories and bonds are created in adulthood... just a thought.
i love the way her haunting voice makes you feel. it gives me chills.
i agree. it's about wanting something but not being able to have it. having it haunt you... in a way. thats what makes the song great, her voice. not to mention amazing lyrics.
It's about the guilt in lust—that deep sinking feeling of touching someone without their permission, staining them, even if it's only in dreams. Feeling free to let that passion all seep out, letting loose in the flurry of remorse coupled with yearning.
This has the be the most haunting, sexiest and most beautiful song I've ever heard.
Does anybody else think the "rising up like sap or honey or tar" is referring to the memory, and that sometimes it is sweet (like honey) but sometimes when the memory comes up it's toxic? That's what it means to me... sometimes past bittersweet memories come up, or desires, and they make me smile... other times, they make me feel angry, and sad.
@sparrowleaf Possibly, I was thinking it was more indicating how quickly someone erm...<br /> sap, honey and tar all being various consistancies and their connection to the tree trunk.. wood etc.. although honey and tar not direct from a tree both are strong ties to it, sap being like the blood of the tree, honey being closely linked ie. wild bees nesting in or on the tree, using the trees flowers to help produce the honey in some cases, some types of tar being made from wood... I thought it was predicting the outcome of the finale.<br />
I think this lyric is pretty obvious.. I think it's just aabout wanting something really really bad and knowing that you can't ever ever have it.. And also i think it's really bad that no one has commented on this song befour.. I love the song, the lyric, I just love them..
I agree with Snaedis... beautiful song, a little haunting though.
xoxo
i don't know why but this song brings a strange will to cry. and i love it.
I used to think she was saying "erase you" instead of rape.
The song seems to be about her wanting someone that she might have already fucked. Possibly she ruined a chance to talk with them, so now she has no choice but to dream about the person and want them from a far.