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.
For taking the trouble, for hanging on and tryin'
You've been working through the rubble of a shattered mind
Yeah Baby, tell me why the tears are falling from your eye
Tears of laughter, tears of grief, are they the tears of a captured thief?
You thought that you were home free, you thought you had her well in hand
But there were things about her you didn't understand
Yeah Baby, tell me how you're gonna keep that promise now?
To live your life without regret and make it work with what you get
You didn't then, but now you know
When she began to lie, you really should have let her go
You're learnin' how to talk about it, you're learnin' how to bend
It's like you're learning how to walk all over again
Yeah Baby, tell me who you're gonna give your lovin' to?
That girl who catches every eye or the one you can set your compass by
You set it by her soulful smile, the fire in her eye
And the way she goes that extra mile
The love you wanted this to be is somewhere down the line
You'll find her eventually
Your grandma and her grandma are sittin' 'round heaven discussin' the law
Lovin' that girl was not your crime, livin' without her gonna take some time
Lovin' that girl next thing you knew, you'd turned away from the thing you do
Lovin' that girl, you couldn't see, living without her gonna make you free
You've been working through the rubble of a shattered mind
Yeah Baby, tell me why the tears are falling from your eye
Tears of laughter, tears of grief, are they the tears of a captured thief?
You thought that you were home free, you thought you had her well in hand
But there were things about her you didn't understand
Yeah Baby, tell me how you're gonna keep that promise now?
To live your life without regret and make it work with what you get
You didn't then, but now you know
When she began to lie, you really should have let her go
You're learnin' how to talk about it, you're learnin' how to bend
It's like you're learning how to walk all over again
Yeah Baby, tell me who you're gonna give your lovin' to?
That girl who catches every eye or the one you can set your compass by
You set it by her soulful smile, the fire in her eye
And the way she goes that extra mile
The love you wanted this to be is somewhere down the line
You'll find her eventually
Your grandma and her grandma are sittin' 'round heaven discussin' the law
Lovin' that girl was not your crime, livin' without her gonna take some time
Lovin' that girl next thing you knew, you'd turned away from the thing you do
Lovin' that girl, you couldn't see, living without her gonna make you free
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Blue
Ed Sheeran
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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.
This song has always fascinated me. We've got what looks like a serious situation juxtaposed with a chill reggae treatment. As with so many of JB's songs, it can be interpreted through one's own lens.
I think there is an assumption out there of who this song is really about, but unless the man himself comments on it, I will never offer my opinion.
When I hear it, I have a clear picture of someone in my life and their experience of a failed relationship with a crazy woman. A few times the heat were dispatched when the neighbors were concerned over the volume of the "discussions."
I don't know if the subject, being in 2nd person voice is the storyteller. Is he talking to himself or a buddy? In either case, there is the recognition that you did your best, but the odds were against the thing ever working out. You tried to reason with her, stick it out and manage an impossible situation. You let go, work at moving on, and think about how you might do things differently in the future.
At the end, there is some of this "Pull yourself together. You can't assume responsibility for another's behavior. You can't be with her and be your authentic self. Lick your wounds, but get on with it. When you get some distance, you will realize you are better off." I always hear a subtext in my mind. "Don't fuck up again."