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.
When there is light from up above
Then there will come a sacred dove
To the basement, to the basement
When there is fear you won't have to cry
Napkins are here, they'll dry your eyes
And blind them, and blind them
They will come to your home
When they are here
Faces down
When there is greed taking control
Moving the bricks and starving the older people
Oh, people
If you seek shelter from your past
They'll come to point their fingers where you cast your shadow
Cast your shadow
They will come to your home
When they are here
Faces down
But you
Have been fooled
You knew the rules
By heart
There is
No guarantee
Against infamy
Out there
When there is trouble on the road
Dead passengers will guide you home
They will lead you
If they can just feed you
They will come to your home
When they are here
Faces down
Then there will come a sacred dove
To the basement, to the basement
When there is fear you won't have to cry
Napkins are here, they'll dry your eyes
And blind them, and blind them
They will come to your home
When they are here
Faces down
When there is greed taking control
Moving the bricks and starving the older people
Oh, people
If you seek shelter from your past
They'll come to point their fingers where you cast your shadow
Cast your shadow
They will come to your home
When they are here
Faces down
But you
Have been fooled
You knew the rules
By heart
There is
No guarantee
Against infamy
Out there
When there is trouble on the road
Dead passengers will guide you home
They will lead you
If they can just feed you
They will come to your home
When they are here
Faces down
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Great version of a great song,
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one of the greatest songs on faces down can't say i know what it means though..
i saw him talk about it, and he said that it was from a newspaper in norway he was reading. the story was about these carjacking murderers who townspeople were trying to defend, saying that they were mere "cold blooded murderers" and no one should bother about them, disregarding that they themselves could be killed by them.
Wow. This used to be my favorite song because I felt like it had a positve, uplifting sound, but upon listening to it again VERRRRRRRRRRRRY closely and muting out Sondre to hear the background music only, I've come to realize the cryptic nature of this song! It's about death; that is undeniable...i'm just not 100% certain how. I feel like it's about the interaction between a person and the "other worldly" (ie: ghosts)...listen to the "shrieks" in the background if you don't believe me!!!!
Very strange, nonetheless, but still one of my favorites.
Wow. This used to be my favorite song because I felt like it had a positve, uplifting sound, but upon listening to it again VERRRRRRRRRRRRY closely and muting out Sondre to hear the background music only, I've come to realize the cryptic nature of this song! It's about death; that is undeniable...i'm just not 100% certain how. I feel like it's about the interaction between a person and the "other worldly" (ie: ghosts)...listen to the "shrieks" in the background if you don't believe me!!!!
Very strange, nonetheless, but still one of my favorites.