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 thousand, red warriors reluctantly ordered to begin
A charge that lead to slaughter amid chaotic blackened din
On a desert plain where I now stand rubbing dusty eyes
With the company of a deaf friend whose beginnings I despise
It is lonely at this stop here with the low arms
of light creeping in
We delivered the kiss of death and it was
well received
It is lonely and there is no place to go except down
It’s lonely and there’s no where to go except down
The desert is alone and I’ve no face to show this dawn
Just heavy, cold light on these eyes, this sorry excuse
for eyes
I dressed up a cactus as a clown and on
his spiny face I painted a frown
His whiskers brush my cheek, I plant the kiss
of death, my lip bleeds
It is lonely and the only direction I know
is down into the battle
It is lonely and the only place I know to go
is down into the bottle
The desert is home for me, a dusty, circus clown
“the moth balls,” I told you “were such a sorry
excuse for eyes.”
On a desert plain where I now stand rubbing
dusty eyes
In a company of a drunk, deaf, dumb friend
whose beginnings I despise
spotted with placid mirrors is this ground
but their reflection scares the shit out of me
Takes what he can, when he can, why he can
He kicks the can
There’s a pebble inside and it rattles hopelessly
to the empty desert dawn
but it was well received
really
A charge that lead to slaughter amid chaotic blackened din
On a desert plain where I now stand rubbing dusty eyes
With the company of a deaf friend whose beginnings I despise
It is lonely at this stop here with the low arms
of light creeping in
We delivered the kiss of death and it was
well received
It is lonely and there is no place to go except down
It’s lonely and there’s no where to go except down
The desert is alone and I’ve no face to show this dawn
Just heavy, cold light on these eyes, this sorry excuse
for eyes
I dressed up a cactus as a clown and on
his spiny face I painted a frown
His whiskers brush my cheek, I plant the kiss
of death, my lip bleeds
It is lonely and the only direction I know
is down into the battle
It is lonely and the only place I know to go
is down into the bottle
The desert is home for me, a dusty, circus clown
“the moth balls,” I told you “were such a sorry
excuse for eyes.”
On a desert plain where I now stand rubbing
dusty eyes
In a company of a drunk, deaf, dumb friend
whose beginnings I despise
spotted with placid mirrors is this ground
but their reflection scares the shit out of me
Takes what he can, when he can, why he can
He kicks the can
There’s a pebble inside and it rattles hopelessly
to the empty desert dawn
but it was well received
really
Lyrics submitted by removeyourteeth
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I think it's just "deaf friend". By the way, I love coming here and seeing comments from 13 years ago.