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.
The wind hit my back
Cold as I remember
And caught me off guard
In the middle of December
Sometimes a crowded room
Can feel the most alone
Sometimes I wonder
Why you won't pick up the phone
This wall is glaring
And it's too hard for me to climb
I've ran and ran
And now there's nothing left behind
I see a picture of a broken man inside
I tried and tried
And now there's nothing left but time
And I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you alone
And I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you alone
Together we will fly tonight
Leave all of the rest behind
I'll wait for you
These hands can feel
Like they're not even mine
A tree and hill and a cry in the night
Sometimes a little step is the greatest divide
Sometimes I feel your breath right at my side
When this wall is glaring
And it's too hard for me to climb
I've ran and ran
And now there's nothing left behind
I see a picture of a broken man inside
I tried and tried
And now there's nothing left but time
And I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you alone
And I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you alone
Together we will fly tonight
Leave all of the rest behind
I'll wait for you
Here I am at the edge of the road
One hand on the end of the rope
One crack and it breaks alone
Wondering who's gonna take me home
On my knees when you call my bluff
Begging please from the edge of the rough
I know when I've had enough
And I know it, and I know it
I see a picture of a broken man inside
I've tried and tried
And now there's nothing left but time
And I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you alone
And I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you alone
Wait here, stay here
Say you're the only one I need
I know it, I'm holding
Together we will fly tonight
Leave all of the rest behind
I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you
Wait here, stay here
Say you're the only one I need
I know it, I'm holding
Wait
Cold as I remember
And caught me off guard
In the middle of December
Sometimes a crowded room
Can feel the most alone
Sometimes I wonder
Why you won't pick up the phone
This wall is glaring
And it's too hard for me to climb
I've ran and ran
And now there's nothing left behind
I see a picture of a broken man inside
I tried and tried
And now there's nothing left but time
And I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you alone
And I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you alone
Together we will fly tonight
Leave all of the rest behind
I'll wait for you
These hands can feel
Like they're not even mine
A tree and hill and a cry in the night
Sometimes a little step is the greatest divide
Sometimes I feel your breath right at my side
When this wall is glaring
And it's too hard for me to climb
I've ran and ran
And now there's nothing left behind
I see a picture of a broken man inside
I tried and tried
And now there's nothing left but time
And I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you alone
And I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you alone
Together we will fly tonight
Leave all of the rest behind
I'll wait for you
Here I am at the edge of the road
One hand on the end of the rope
One crack and it breaks alone
Wondering who's gonna take me home
On my knees when you call my bluff
Begging please from the edge of the rough
I know when I've had enough
And I know it, and I know it
I see a picture of a broken man inside
I've tried and tried
And now there's nothing left but time
And I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you alone
And I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you alone
Wait here, stay here
Say you're the only one I need
I know it, I'm holding
Together we will fly tonight
Leave all of the rest behind
I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you
Wait here, stay here
Say you're the only one I need
I know it, I'm holding
Wait
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
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Obviously, the song is about waiting. But for what? The return of Jesus. Kearney is saying how, despite his isolation in the world ('crowded room') he will wait for the Lord to come, and to take him away from this. "Wonderin whos gonna take me home" Christians see heaven as their true home..with their Father, God. "I know when I've had enough And I know it, and I know it" These lines..i can only realy relate to the passage in the Bible which states that the Lord will only put us through, whaat he knows we can handle. A beautiful song, i love it! Almost brings a tear to my eye sometimes.
it's about waiting for God amongst a lonely world
I thought that this song is about him waiting for a girlfriend to come back & make everything okay. It`s a beautiful song.