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.
Foreign lands, I set out two years to this day.
Called you up just to hear your voice and relay.
I never saw that your face showed all of the signs,
How could I know in a voice through electric lines?
I won't stray out,
East, west, north or south
Take my word now,
Cower, leap out.
Sit back at home, as a smile on a guilty face.
Receiver's down, drawn the blinds, it's a darkened place.
Across the globe while I'm feeling so reassured,
Your open arms welcome what you've always ignored.
I won't stray out,
East, west, north or south
Take my word now,
Cower, leap out.
I won't stray out,
East, west, north or south
Take my word now,
Cower, leap out.
Going to take these two steps forward,
Then a step behind.
Going to wish you'd never noticed,
I can't leave this behind.
Going to take these two steps forward,
Then a step behind.
Going to wish you'd never noticed,
I can't leave this behind.
They'll always find out.
Of that there is no doubt.
Called you up just to hear your voice and relay.
I never saw that your face showed all of the signs,
How could I know in a voice through electric lines?
I won't stray out,
East, west, north or south
Take my word now,
Cower, leap out.
Sit back at home, as a smile on a guilty face.
Receiver's down, drawn the blinds, it's a darkened place.
Across the globe while I'm feeling so reassured,
Your open arms welcome what you've always ignored.
I won't stray out,
East, west, north or south
Take my word now,
Cower, leap out.
I won't stray out,
East, west, north or south
Take my word now,
Cower, leap out.
Going to take these two steps forward,
Then a step behind.
Going to wish you'd never noticed,
I can't leave this behind.
Going to take these two steps forward,
Then a step behind.
Going to wish you'd never noticed,
I can't leave this behind.
They'll always find out.
Of that there is no doubt.
Lyrics submitted by roboticpink
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Another good song, I feel the lyrics are fairly straightforward - describing a long distance relationship where their partner is currently cheating or likely to cheat ("you open arms welcome what you've always ignored") and he is unaware because they only talk on the phone.
I think it's 'cowardly bow' not 'cower leap out' and this further explains the way their partner is performing in the sense that they are keeping the relationship going by lying and insisting over the phone "take my word now" and then taking a "cowardly bow" because they are not bold enough to end the relationship.
The last lines are a warning that cheating will always be discovered, and once discovered it can't be forgotten ("I can't leave this behind").