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 cat came drifting, on my porch from the outside cold,
and with eyes closed drinking, warm milk from my bowl, thought:
nobody hears me (x2)
'cause I crept in so soft
and nobody sees me
nobody sees me
as I watched six steps off,
like, the peacocks wandering,
the walkways of the zoo
who have twice the autonomy
the giraffes and the tigers do, saying:
no one can stop me (x2)
no one clips my claws
now everyone watch me
everyone watch me
scale these outside walls
oh, you pious and profane,
put away your praise and blame,
"a glass can only spill what it contains"
To the perpetually plain and the incurably inane
a glass can only spill what it contains
what new mystery is this?
what blessed backwardness?
the Immeasurable One is held and does not resist!
struck by wicked words and foolish fists of senseless men
the Almighty One does not defend!
I was halfway listening, to what she thinks she knows,
We're like children dressing, in our parents' clothes, saying:
Nobody knows me, (x2)
No one knows my name,
Nobody knows me (x2)
(nobody knows me)
I half-heartedly explained
but gave up peacefully ashamed
as a glass can only spill what it contains
we went to Portugal and Spain
and in her mind the entire time it rained!
a glass can only spill what it contains
what new mystery is this? overflowing emptiness
the Invisible is seen among the shadows and the mist,
before my doubting eyes the Infinite appears in time -
the Unquestionable is question but makes no reply!
what new mystery is this?! (x5)
"my Rabbi!"
my lips betray with a kiss
what new mystery is this?
and with eyes closed drinking, warm milk from my bowl, thought:
nobody hears me (x2)
'cause I crept in so soft
and nobody sees me
nobody sees me
as I watched six steps off,
like, the peacocks wandering,
the walkways of the zoo
who have twice the autonomy
the giraffes and the tigers do, saying:
no one can stop me (x2)
no one clips my claws
now everyone watch me
everyone watch me
scale these outside walls
oh, you pious and profane,
put away your praise and blame,
"a glass can only spill what it contains"
To the perpetually plain and the incurably inane
a glass can only spill what it contains
what new mystery is this?
what blessed backwardness?
the Immeasurable One is held and does not resist!
struck by wicked words and foolish fists of senseless men
the Almighty One does not defend!
I was halfway listening, to what she thinks she knows,
We're like children dressing, in our parents' clothes, saying:
Nobody knows me, (x2)
No one knows my name,
Nobody knows me (x2)
(nobody knows me)
I half-heartedly explained
but gave up peacefully ashamed
as a glass can only spill what it contains
we went to Portugal and Spain
and in her mind the entire time it rained!
a glass can only spill what it contains
what new mystery is this? overflowing emptiness
the Invisible is seen among the shadows and the mist,
before my doubting eyes the Infinite appears in time -
the Unquestionable is question but makes no reply!
what new mystery is this?! (x5)
"my Rabbi!"
my lips betray with a kiss
what new mystery is this?
Lyrics submitted by Fat Kid With Asthma, edited by Numbzie
A Glass Can Only Spill What it Contains Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, TERRORBIRD PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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sounds like:
the invisible being above the shadows in the mist, before my doubting eyes, the infinite appears this time. the unquestionable is questioned, but makes no reply!
i think the word doubting fits better into the whole meaning of this song. i could be wrong.
nice job on the lyrics
wow this song is great what new mystery is this?