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.
Sunlight coming through the haze
No gaps in the blind, to let it inside
The bed is unmade, some music still plays
TV, yeah, it's always on
A flicker on the screen, a movie actress screams
I'm basking in the shit, flowing out of it
I'm stoned in the mall again
Terminally bored, shuffling round the stores
And shoplifting is getting so last year's thing
Xbox is a god to me
A finger on the switch, my mother is a bitch
My father gave up ever trying to talk to me
Don't try engaging me
The vaguest of shrugs, the prescription drugs
You'll never find, a person inside
My face is mogadon
Curiosity, has given up on me
I'm tuning out desires, the pills are on the rise
How can I be sure I'm here?
The pills that I've been taking confuse me
I need to know that someone sees that
There's nothing left, I simply am not here
I'm through with pornography
The acting is lame, the action is tame
Explicitly dull, arousal annulled
Your mouth should be boarded up
Talking all day, with nothing to say
Your shallow proclamations, all misinformation
My friend says he wants to die
He's in a band, they sound like Pearl Jam
The clothes are all black, the music is crap
In school I don't concentrate
And sex is kinda fun but just another one
Of all the empty ways of using up a day
How can I be sure I'm here?
The pills that I've been taking confuse me
I need to know that someone sees that
There's nothing left, I simply am not here
Bipolar disorder
Can't deal with the boredom
Bipolar disorder
Can't deal with the boredom
You don't try to be liked
You don't mind
You feel no sun
You steal a gun
To kill time
You're somewhere, you're nowhere
You don't care
You catch the breeze
You still the leaves
So now where?
No gaps in the blind, to let it inside
The bed is unmade, some music still plays
TV, yeah, it's always on
A flicker on the screen, a movie actress screams
I'm basking in the shit, flowing out of it
I'm stoned in the mall again
Terminally bored, shuffling round the stores
And shoplifting is getting so last year's thing
Xbox is a god to me
A finger on the switch, my mother is a bitch
My father gave up ever trying to talk to me
Don't try engaging me
The vaguest of shrugs, the prescription drugs
You'll never find, a person inside
My face is mogadon
Curiosity, has given up on me
I'm tuning out desires, the pills are on the rise
How can I be sure I'm here?
The pills that I've been taking confuse me
I need to know that someone sees that
There's nothing left, I simply am not here
I'm through with pornography
The acting is lame, the action is tame
Explicitly dull, arousal annulled
Your mouth should be boarded up
Talking all day, with nothing to say
Your shallow proclamations, all misinformation
My friend says he wants to die
He's in a band, they sound like Pearl Jam
The clothes are all black, the music is crap
In school I don't concentrate
And sex is kinda fun but just another one
Of all the empty ways of using up a day
How can I be sure I'm here?
The pills that I've been taking confuse me
I need to know that someone sees that
There's nothing left, I simply am not here
Bipolar disorder
Can't deal with the boredom
Bipolar disorder
Can't deal with the boredom
You don't try to be liked
You don't mind
You feel no sun
You steal a gun
To kill time
You're somewhere, you're nowhere
You don't care
You catch the breeze
You still the leaves
So now where?
Lyrics submitted by CoyoteLongshot, edited by Octavarium64
Fear of a Blank Planet Lyrics as written by Gavin Richard Harrison Steven John Wilson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Wow... good ear, Jack. Your lyrics are definitely more accurate. I'll put 'em up.