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.
A showdown at dusk,
This old town is lost,
I’m flat on my back
And I can’t see through the dust.
But you never told me that I was worthy,
You didn’t let me live just to hurt me.
Desperate
We will lift up our hands.
Stronger
We will rise up against.
Freedom
Is a part of us all
its time to let it go.
Desperate
We will lift up our hands.
Stronger
We will rise up against.
Freedom
Is a part of us all
its time to let it go.
What happens now when I walk out of town?
And the enemy surrounds me bent on hunting me down?
I’ll be moving silent while the enemy sleeps,
I’ll show no mercy like the first time when they came after me.
You’ll never catch me.
You’ll never own me.
Out on this lonely landscape I am free
Desperate
We will lift up our hands.
Stronger
We will rise up against.
Freedom
It’s a part of us all
It’s time to let it go.
Desperate
We will lift up our hands.
Stronger
We will rise up against.
Freedom
It’s a part of us all
It’s time to let it go.
I guess we figured it out.
One by one we’re picking them off.
I guess we figured it out.
One by one we’re picking them off.
I guess we figured it out.
One by one we’re picking them off.
Desperate
We will lift up our hands.
Stronger
We will rise up against.
Freedom
It’s a part of us all
It’s time to let it go.
Desperate
We will lift up our hands.
Stronger
We will rise up against.
Freedom
It’s a part of us all
It’s time to let it go.
This old town is lost,
I’m flat on my back
And I can’t see through the dust.
But you never told me that I was worthy,
You didn’t let me live just to hurt me.
Desperate
We will lift up our hands.
Stronger
We will rise up against.
Freedom
Is a part of us all
its time to let it go.
Desperate
We will lift up our hands.
Stronger
We will rise up against.
Freedom
Is a part of us all
its time to let it go.
What happens now when I walk out of town?
And the enemy surrounds me bent on hunting me down?
I’ll be moving silent while the enemy sleeps,
I’ll show no mercy like the first time when they came after me.
You’ll never catch me.
You’ll never own me.
Out on this lonely landscape I am free
Desperate
We will lift up our hands.
Stronger
We will rise up against.
Freedom
It’s a part of us all
It’s time to let it go.
Desperate
We will lift up our hands.
Stronger
We will rise up against.
Freedom
It’s a part of us all
It’s time to let it go.
I guess we figured it out.
One by one we’re picking them off.
I guess we figured it out.
One by one we’re picking them off.
I guess we figured it out.
One by one we’re picking them off.
Desperate
We will lift up our hands.
Stronger
We will rise up against.
Freedom
It’s a part of us all
It’s time to let it go.
Desperate
We will lift up our hands.
Stronger
We will rise up against.
Freedom
It’s a part of us all
It’s time to let it go.
Lyrics submitted by xnotquiteurgurlx
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"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.
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
You guys should check out "we all look elsewhere" by the Classic Crime. the meaning is similar, but i think it's expressed better and it's a more emotional song.