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.
Children, Broadripple is burning
And the girls are getting sick
Off huffing glue up in the bathroom
While your boyfriends pick up chicks
And darling I'm lost
I heard you whispering
That night in fountain square
The trashed filled streets made me wish we were heading home
There was love inside the basement
Where that woman used to lie
In a sleeping bag we shared upon
The floor most every night
And darling I'm drunk,
And everything that I have loved has turned to stone
So pack your bags and come back home
And I'm wasted
You can taste it
Don't look at me that way,
'Cause I'll be hanging from a rope
I will haunt you like a ghost
And if my woman was a fire,
She'd burn out before I wake,
And be replaced by pints of whiskey,
Cigarettes, and outer space
Then somebody moves
And everything you thought you had will go to shit
Well, we've got a lot
Don't ever forget that
And I wrote this on airplane where the people looked like eggs
And when a woman that you loved was gone,
She was bombing East Japan
And don't fucking move,
'Cause everything you thought you had will go to shit
We've got a lot
Don't you dare forget that
And I'm wasted
You can taste it
Don't look at me that way,
'Cause I'll be hanging from a rope
I will haunt you like a ghost
And I'm wasted
You can taste it
Don't look at me that way,
'Cause I'll be hanging from a rope
I will haunt you like a ghost
And the girls are getting sick
Off huffing glue up in the bathroom
While your boyfriends pick up chicks
And darling I'm lost
I heard you whispering
That night in fountain square
The trashed filled streets made me wish we were heading home
There was love inside the basement
Where that woman used to lie
In a sleeping bag we shared upon
The floor most every night
And darling I'm drunk,
And everything that I have loved has turned to stone
So pack your bags and come back home
And I'm wasted
You can taste it
Don't look at me that way,
'Cause I'll be hanging from a rope
I will haunt you like a ghost
And if my woman was a fire,
She'd burn out before I wake,
And be replaced by pints of whiskey,
Cigarettes, and outer space
Then somebody moves
And everything you thought you had will go to shit
Well, we've got a lot
Don't ever forget that
And I wrote this on airplane where the people looked like eggs
And when a woman that you loved was gone,
She was bombing East Japan
And don't fucking move,
'Cause everything you thought you had will go to shit
We've got a lot
Don't you dare forget that
And I'm wasted
You can taste it
Don't look at me that way,
'Cause I'll be hanging from a rope
I will haunt you like a ghost
And I'm wasted
You can taste it
Don't look at me that way,
'Cause I'll be hanging from a rope
I will haunt you like a ghost
Lyrics submitted by miki, edited by lidiaan, Pearmellow
Broadripple Is Burning Lyrics as written by Richard Charles Edwards
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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,
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
First of all, I love this song. Can't stop listening to it. I saw them in concert a couple months ago. Loved it.
In my opinion, again its just that, but I think this is a song about a failed long distance relationship.
"Oh honey...........pick up chicks"
Broadripple is a neighborhood in Indianapolis I believe. I think this portion is talking about the utter chaos that hes been left in now that she has left him all alone in the neighborhood the grew up in and fell in love in.
"And darlin'.......headed home."
He remembers the night she told him she was leaving. He wishes they were heading back to Broadripple, but he knows they aren't. She's off to bigger and better things. So he's lost.
"And there was love.....most every night"
This is more reminiscing about their time together in Broadripple.
"And darlin' I'm drunk......and come back home."
He's drunk and he went to where she moved and he is begging her to move back to Broadripple so they can be together and make everything right.
Refrain
He's drunk and can tell she knows. He doesn't want her to judge him, he just wants her to come home. Otherwise he's going to be miserable and won't be able to live without her.
"And if my woman.....outer space."
She left him in the blink of an eye to move elsewhere and the only thing he knew to replace her with was booze and cigarettes. The cigarettes and outer space makes me picture a guy standing in the middle of the street, smoking a cigarette, looking up at the stars, thinking about what he's lost. It's quite haunting.
"Then somebody moves.......to shit"
Basically says when somebody moves away the whole relationship that you thought was perfect blows up in your face.
"But we.....forget that."
Here is trying to convince her. Even though we are far apart, we've got a lot going for us.
"And I wrote......east Japan."
Here is flying back home after his unsuccessful attempt to convince her to get back together and maybe even come home. She's the "nuclear bomb" that has devastated his life (east Japan).
"Don't F%#$
It cut off a bit of my post so......<br /> "Don't F#*$($($(..........forget that."<br /> <br /> Basically telling people that if you have a relationship you think is the one, neither one of you should move because everything you thought you had will blow up in your face.<br /> <br /> Refrain<br /> <br /> Same as last time.<br /> <br /> Again, this is just my opinion, im sure others with different life experiences will think differently. Sorry for the double post!
I'm not sure what all this talk about Bripple high school is, Broadripple is a district near downtown Indy. It's kind of the cultural district of Indy, lots of little shops and a few nightclubs. Home to Indy CD and Vinyl, a kickass music store, and Metamorphosis, a hipster tattoo parlor. Tons of artsy, hipster, indie kids around. Lots of smoking and drinking and sleeping with eachothers friends..... all while listening to incredible music. Broadripple is burning. I see it... and so does Richard Edwards.
To the version of Broadripple above: I think this song is about a guy who has lost the love of his life.
When he's speaking of "Broadripple burning", he's saying how down hill it has gone from former years.
".. that night in Fountain Square.. the trash-filled streets made me wish we were headed home" - again talking about how Fountain Square is a dump lately.
He's speaking about these two places because him & his girl friend would often frequent these parts of Indianapolis. Now that she has passed away or left, everything good about either district has completely vanished.
"And there was love inside the basement.. where that woman ((used)) to lie" - Again, telling you she has passed away or left him cold.
This guy takes to booze, cigarettes & day dreaming as a vice to fill the whole he now has.
Him hanging from a rope is not meant literally but metaphorically. Saying that he basically is dead now. What else could he be living for without her in his life?
I feel like the 2nd to last verse is about closure but I need help on the "bombing east japan" part. Maybe talking about World War II. I'm not sure if woment were inlisted in the militart back then, possibley but I just don't know. - If so theyn maybe it's about a guy who loses his love in war?
And yes, I'm from Indianapolis and swing by both of these area's quite frequently. They've both gone to shit. So the song is true.
I think the East Japan part is definitely a reference to WWII, but it's not that his ex-GF was enlisted. The lyrics read: "and when a women that you loved is gone, she's bombing east japan". It's a way of describing how she is destroying him. Bombing East Japan, is one of the most inhuman, destructive acts committed in human history. At the same time, for the soldiers who did it, it was virtually out of their control. They could see the massacre, but do nothing to stop it. I think that is the feeling this lyric is evoking.
I agree with gr3131 alot... well both of you for that matter
I agree with everything you've written, except that BOTH districts have gone to shit. <br /> <br /> Broadripple has definitely taken a downturn in the past few years, while Fountain Square has gradually and steadily been on the rise. Home sales are on a huge upswing and property values improving. <br /> <br /> Many new businesses have come in to Fountain Square and it is now the place to be on any given evening or weekend with live music at the fountain almost every weekend at some point. <br /> <br /> I live nearby and own a business in Fountain Square and absolutely love it here.<br /> <br /> As far as the "bombing east japan" line.....totally confused about that one.
@simplerecords I believe the line " And there was love inside the basement where that woman used to lie" refers to the torture and murder of 16 year old Sylvia Likens in the 60's. It's an infamous in Indiana, and it happened in the basement of a house in the Fountain Square.
i love this song. it describes life in indiana so well.
Broadripple High School is a school in the Indianapolis area, it burnt down and was rebuilt close to 100 years ago. I think it's very likely the first line of the song is a reference to this school.
First of all, I love this song. Can't stop listening to it. I saw them in concert a couple months ago. Loved it.
In my opinion, again its just that, but I think this is a song about a failed long distance relationship.
"Oh honey...........pick up chicks"
Broadripple is a neighborhood in Indianapolis I believe. I think this portion is talking about the utter chaos that hes been left in now that she has left him all alone in the neighborhood the grew up in and fell in love in.
"And darlin'.......headed home."
He remembers the night she told him she was leaving. He wishes they were heading back to Broadripple, but he knows they aren't. She's off to bigger and better things. So he's lost.
"And there was love.....most every night"
This is more reminiscing about their time together in Broadripple.
"And darlin' I'm drunk......and come back home."
He's drunk and he went to where she moved and he is begging her to move back to Broadripple so they can be together and make everything right.
Refrain
He's drunk and can tell she knows. He doesn't want her to judge him, he just wants her to come home. Otherwise he's going to be miserable and won't be able to live without her.
"And if my woman.....outer space."
She left him in the blink of an eye to move elsewhere and the only thing he knew to replace her with was booze and cigarettes. The cigarettes and outer space makes me picture a guy standing in the middle of the street, smoking a cigarette, looking up at the stars, thinking about what he's lost. It's quite haunting.
"Then somebody moves.......to shit"
Basically says when somebody moves away the whole relationship that you thought was perfect blows up in your face.
"But we.....forget that."
Here is trying to convince her. Even though we are far apart, we've got a lot going for us.
"And I wrote......east Japan."
Here is flying back home after his unsuccessful attempt to convince her to get back together and maybe even come home. She's the "nuclear bomb" that has devastated his life (east Japan).
"Don't F%#$
Seems to me this is pretty clearly about the loss of a lover by an chronic relapsing alcoholic. The hook is pretty clear evidence of that. From unfortunate experience, I vividly remember the look of betrayal and disappointment in the woman I’ve loved’s eyes as I realized a relapse has been found out. ‘Don’t look at me that way cuz I’ll be hanging from a rope, haunt u like a ghost’ is hauntingly resonant, as the feeling of letting her down is crushing to the spirit, knowing you are once again a source of pain and lost trust to someone you love above all else, definitely triggers the want to die or not be alive unfortunately. Very accurate. The verses are the finer details surrounding the cycle of loss and relapse and chaos left in addictions wake.
At least I think so.
@DrowningInIt nice interpretation.
love this song.
Broad Ripple is a high school in IN, likely where they attended.
Someone explain E. Japan bit? I'm trying to think Enola Gay here, but I don't know.
broad ripple is an area of town which is where the high school gets its name... broad ripple has tons of clubs and bars and some of the unsavory things that happen there are described in this song
so was he wasted on an airplane? haha just kidding...this song is awesome. but yeah, i dont get the east japan part either...