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.
I feel you all around me
You are everything I can not see
As the ocean crawls onto the shoreline
So you lap at the edges of me
And now, as I'm walking
I know that you're watching me move
For as much as I need you
I must walk away from you
You're my life, you're my hope
You're the chain, you're the rope
You're my god, you're my hell
You're the sky, you're my self
You're the reason I'm living
And you're all that I have to discover
You're the rain, you're the stars
You're so near, you're so far
You're my friend, you're my foe
You're the miles left to go
You are everything I ever wanted
And you're my lover
So I carry, I carry the flowers
The flowers that are dead in my hands
They will rise up at the very sight of you
They will naturally understand
That today is the day
That we find out once and for all
Now you know I must leave here
You must let me stand or fall
You're my life, you're my hope
You're the chain, you're the rope
You're my God, you're my hell
You're the sky, you're my self
You're the reason I'm living
And you're all that I have to discover
You're the rain, you're the stars
You're so near, you're so far
You're my friend, you're my foe
You're the miles left to go
You are everything I ever wanted
And you're my lover
If I leave, will you follow?
Can I put my faith in you?
You're my life, you're my hope
You're the chain, you're the rope
You're my God, you're my hell
You're the sky, you're my self
You're the reason I'm living
And you're all that I have to discover
You're the rain, you're the stars
You're so near, you're so far
You're my friend, you're my foe
You're the miles left to go
You are everything I ever wanted
And you're my lover
And I love you now
As I loved you then
But this island life
Just had to end
But you will always be
My special friend
I will carry you with me
And we can love again
Now the drizzle
Soaks us to the skin
And the stars hang like a noose
So let's face this together
Now this storm is finally through
You're my life, you're my hope
You're the chain, you're the rope
You're my God, you're my hell
You're the sky, you're my self
You're the reason I'm living
And you're all that I have to discover
You're the rain, you're the stars
You're so near, you're so far
You're my friend, you're my foe
You're the miles left to go
You are everything I ever wanted
And you're my lover
You are everything I can not see
As the ocean crawls onto the shoreline
So you lap at the edges of me
And now, as I'm walking
I know that you're watching me move
For as much as I need you
I must walk away from you
You're my life, you're my hope
You're the chain, you're the rope
You're my god, you're my hell
You're the sky, you're my self
You're the reason I'm living
And you're all that I have to discover
You're the rain, you're the stars
You're so near, you're so far
You're my friend, you're my foe
You're the miles left to go
You are everything I ever wanted
And you're my lover
So I carry, I carry the flowers
The flowers that are dead in my hands
They will rise up at the very sight of you
They will naturally understand
That today is the day
That we find out once and for all
Now you know I must leave here
You must let me stand or fall
You're my life, you're my hope
You're the chain, you're the rope
You're my God, you're my hell
You're the sky, you're my self
You're the reason I'm living
And you're all that I have to discover
You're the rain, you're the stars
You're so near, you're so far
You're my friend, you're my foe
You're the miles left to go
You are everything I ever wanted
And you're my lover
If I leave, will you follow?
Can I put my faith in you?
You're my life, you're my hope
You're the chain, you're the rope
You're my God, you're my hell
You're the sky, you're my self
You're the reason I'm living
And you're all that I have to discover
You're the rain, you're the stars
You're so near, you're so far
You're my friend, you're my foe
You're the miles left to go
You are everything I ever wanted
And you're my lover
And I love you now
As I loved you then
But this island life
Just had to end
But you will always be
My special friend
I will carry you with me
And we can love again
Now the drizzle
Soaks us to the skin
And the stars hang like a noose
So let's face this together
Now this storm is finally through
You're my life, you're my hope
You're the chain, you're the rope
You're my God, you're my hell
You're the sky, you're my self
You're the reason I'm living
And you're all that I have to discover
You're the rain, you're the stars
You're so near, you're so far
You're my friend, you're my foe
You're the miles left to go
You are everything I ever wanted
And you're my lover
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
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Wow... just... wow.
The chorus has such an incredible melody. Best song on the album maybe?
awesome!
SageSoul: couldn't have put it better myself.
"As the ocean crawls onto the shoreline So you lap at the edges of me"
This song is phenomenal. The piano is mindblowing, the production spot on, and then Charlotte's voice... I'm running out of synonyms for 'phenomenal'.