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.
The blood...
How it paints such a scene,
Foul routine pedigree,
Mouth agape, stuttered hands attempt to flail and finally agree.
Her heart ceases its rhythm, somewhere trumpets decay...
In the front by the well, wishing wishes that deny the stale smell in the hay...
There, no one cry, place these over her eyes.
We are broke and alone, we are broken alone.
[CHORUS:]
(She's inanimate) (Bloodless elegance)
Fatal fascination breeds a bloom of misery, yeah
(Helpless hiding tongues) (Bathed in revulsion)
Here lies unfinished beauty wilting premature.
You can't be too sure.
No, you can't be too sure.
Reserved, always playing the part of a boy left alone.
He proceeds to the road beyond the home he'd learn to call his own.
[CHORUS]
(One life for another) X24
One life for another X 23
One life for another X 6
[CHORUS]
How it paints such a scene,
Foul routine pedigree,
Mouth agape, stuttered hands attempt to flail and finally agree.
Her heart ceases its rhythm, somewhere trumpets decay...
In the front by the well, wishing wishes that deny the stale smell in the hay...
There, no one cry, place these over her eyes.
We are broke and alone, we are broken alone.
[CHORUS:]
(She's inanimate) (Bloodless elegance)
Fatal fascination breeds a bloom of misery, yeah
(Helpless hiding tongues) (Bathed in revulsion)
Here lies unfinished beauty wilting premature.
You can't be too sure.
No, you can't be too sure.
Reserved, always playing the part of a boy left alone.
He proceeds to the road beyond the home he'd learn to call his own.
[CHORUS]
(One life for another) X24
One life for another X 23
One life for another X 6
[CHORUS]
Lyrics submitted by ciesl279, edited by lukeeffect, mattrobtron
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The Dear Hunter would not have killed her in my opinion. He's too much of a romantic as we learn later in Act II. As a hopeless romantic myself, I feel that family obligatory love is just as binding, in merely a different way from falling in love. I like the idea of the pimp and the priest terminating her, and I have this funny feeling that we'll find out in later acts that he was intercepting Ms. Leading's letters and the Dear Hunter will confront him (in possibly a violent matter).
I think the one life for another does represent the Dear Hunter being able to find his own life now that his obligatory "matriarchal bonds" are cut.
i think that casey puts meaning behind the WAY he sings as well. "one life for another" seems too angry to be starting a new life--the way its sung just seems like irrational emotions wanted to seek revenge from his mom's killer
Procession:=funeral. but i dont think there is a funeral. generally a funeral procession includes some ceremony and walking, and i think all of that is represented in the boy's exodus. Such a good painting of the boy discovering his mother’s death. “trumpets decay” oh god yes. Remember the well from act 1 all dried up? Yeah, it has finally been dried up. So we can guess it has something to do with his mother (sexual chalice) but it is more than that, it is a motherly chalice (incest returns!) and the “stale smell” is deathly in the hay there no one cry. Here we see the boy’s strength, in my opinion, but it is also sad that no one will mourn her and that is why we feel bad for Boy. “We (him and his mother) are broke and alone” and he discovers a truth of life that is a theme (said over and over in act 3s finale) “we all die alone”. Now, he thinks of the death. Is this the narrator describing the oddness that her beauty remains? Or the boys meditation? Dunno. But it’s pretty easy to understand. He leaves, something about being unsure. And finally, “one life for another” reminds us of his birth as she sacrificed her life for him. This is my favorite song btw. It is so well done in every aspect and very creative in the rhythm. Plus, the tone really matches the lyrics. It’s probably the most complete song in the album.
the album version of this can be heard on the new ecard here:
ecards.tenminutemedia.net/dearhunter/
I think this song is about the death of Ms. Terri... now he is wondering back to "the home he learned to call his own" not knowing what to do.
I believe that Ms. Terri was raped and murdered. "stuttered hands attempt to flail, and finally agree. "
Although, the line "one life for another" doesn't really fit in there. Who is gaining this new life in the wake of her death?
Is it the Dear Hunter? Starting on his own?
Ok i'm not positive but after listening to it a few more times I might be able to shed some light on the one life for another. Most of the time I am hearing One LAUGH for another. But a few times im sure I catch life. In the case of it being laugh he could be talking about pimp/priest laughing about her death and the boy being left alone. Just a thought. But your most likely right that its life haha
I believe that Ms. Terri was raped and murdered. "stuttered hands attempt to flail, and finally agree. "
Although, the line "one life for another" doesn't really fit in there. Who is gaining this new life in the wake of her death?
Is it the Dear Hunter? Starting on his own?
Is it possible that the dear hunter was the one who raped and killed her? I've only really listened to (AND LOVE) Act II, and as far as I can tell, it wouldn't be too out of character for him at all. Thoughts from someone who knows more about the story in Act I?
Is it possible that the dear hunter was the one who raped and killed her? I've only really listened to (AND LOVE) Act II, and as far as I can tell, it wouldn't be too out of character for him at all. Thoughts from someone who knows more about the story in Act I?
Would it be possible that the Pimp/Priest thought she wasn't making him any money so he decided to "discontinue" her.
im thinking that the mother tried to burn down the dime or something as a way to escape her life as a prostitute and this is why the p+p had her killed. in "his hands matched his tongue" theres the line about smoke in the air that he can see as the dear hunter walks home. this could lead on to him going to see what had happend at the brothell then discovering his mothers body. <br /> <br /> i think the lines up untill "Hey there, no one cry." are before he arrives and the rest is his reaction to her death. "Place these over her eyes." obviously him offering coins to put on her eyes.<br /> <br /> "Reserved; always playing the part of the boy left alone.<br /> He proceeds to the road beyond the home he learned to call his own." <br /> this is him making his way from the murder.<br /> <br /> and "one life for another" could be him gettin ragin and sayin he wants to kill the one responsible, like an eye for an eye.