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'm leaving you
I'm not sure if that's what I should do
It hurts so bad
I'm wanting you but can't go back
Trying to find, find
That old, elusive peace of mind
Stuck here somehow
I'm shrouded beneath my fear and doubt
And I don't need it
'Cause I'm walkin' down this road alone
And figured all I'm thinking 'bout is you
Is you my love
My head is in a cloud of rain and the world it seems so far away
And I'm just waiting for
The droplets, droplets
You left a mark
And I wear it proudly on my chest
Above my heart
To remind me that I feel the best
When I'm with you
And everything is effortless
You know it's true
My eyes are painted with regret
And I don't need it
'Cause I'm walkin' down this road alone
And figured all I'm thinking 'bout is you
Is you my love
My head is in a cloud of rain and the world it seems so far away
And I'm just waiting to fall
And sink into your skin
You are like the raindrops, the raindrops
Falling down on me
So you left a mark (you left a mark)
She left a mark (he left)
She left (he left)
And I don't (I don't)
Need it
I'm not sure if that's what I should do
It hurts so bad
I'm wanting you but can't go back
Trying to find, find
That old, elusive peace of mind
Stuck here somehow
I'm shrouded beneath my fear and doubt
And I don't need it
'Cause I'm walkin' down this road alone
And figured all I'm thinking 'bout is you
Is you my love
My head is in a cloud of rain and the world it seems so far away
And I'm just waiting for
The droplets, droplets
You left a mark
And I wear it proudly on my chest
Above my heart
To remind me that I feel the best
When I'm with you
And everything is effortless
You know it's true
My eyes are painted with regret
And I don't need it
'Cause I'm walkin' down this road alone
And figured all I'm thinking 'bout is you
Is you my love
My head is in a cloud of rain and the world it seems so far away
And I'm just waiting to fall
And sink into your skin
You are like the raindrops, the raindrops
Falling down on me
So you left a mark (you left a mark)
She left a mark (he left)
She left (he left)
And I don't (I don't)
Need it
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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.
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Great version of a great song,
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Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Okay, so, I'm basically obsessed with this song and I feel like it's about a long distance relationship and how it's not working out for the girl.
"I'm leaving you I'm not sure if that's what I should do It hurts so bad I'm wanting you but can't go back Trying to find, find That all elusive piece of mind Stuck here somehow I'm shrouded beneath my fear and doubt And I don't need it"
Meaning: is obvious. Her insecurities are eating her alive, but she's not sure of what she wants because she's over-thinking everything because of how much she misses him.
"Cause I'm walkin' down this road alone And figured all I'm thinking 'bout is you, is you my love My head is in a cloud of rain and the world it seems so far away And I'm just waiting for the droplets, droplets"
Meaning: She feels like she's apart from him (walking..alone) both physically and emotionally and doesn't know what to do. She's trapped with her thoughts (my head...away) and she's waiting for herself to figure out what she wants to do in this relationship-if she should end it or not (the decision = the droplets, because when the droplets fall, the 'cloud of rain' will go away).
"You left a mark I wear it proudly on my chest (Above my heart) To remind me that I feel the (best When I'm with you) To me, everything is effortless (You know it's true) My eyes are painted with (regret) and I (don't need it)"
Okay, so I think this should be taken as two different meanings for the two different singers (and i parenthesized what she sings).
So, for him: He loves her and he remembers that even when he's far from her because of the 'mark' that she's left on him. He feels like the relationship is effortless and easy because of this. However, his one regret is having to leave her, but he knows he doesn't 'need it' because it's what's best for him and he really believes they'll make it out.
For her: She's trying to remind herself that she feels good around him, that this is worth it. I think this is when she's made her decision to leave him, and she thinks she shouldn't regret it because she feels like he's happy with where he's at in life (which he is).
"Cause I'm walkin' down this road alone And (figured all I'm thinking 'bout is you), is you (my love) And my head is in a cloud of rain and (the world it seems so far away And I'm just waiting to fall and sink into your skin)"
So, this is his chorus: He's living his life physically away from her (I'm...alone). and when she's singing with him, it's a representation of the fact that she's all he's thinking about. When his head is crazy, he thinks of her and the rest of the world disappears, and he's just waiting to see her again (I'm...skin).
"You are like the raindrops, the raindrops falling down on me"
For him: She is everywhere and soothes him. For her: The decision has been made/the droplets have fallen and she knows that she needs to end their relationship now.
"So you left a mark (you left a mark)"
For him: He knows how much he loves her and is unaware of her decision yet. For her: She's sad that he left such a mark on her because she knows she wants to get rid of it.
"She left a mark (he left) She left (he left)"
For him: he says 'she' this time, he's not singing to her anymore. she has now left him and he's hurting. For her: She's realized that he's not only gone physically now, but emotionally too.
"And I don't (I don't) (need it)"
For him: He doesn't need this mark, because he knows (still) how much he loves her. For her: She doesn't need it because she sees it as a burden-a reminder that she hurt someone she loved.