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 can't get used to the changing of the tide, oh no.
In theory it makes perfect sense.
That's no use to me now.
C'mon now, put a sweater on
And go outside for a while.
You know that you'll feel better,
And you've got everything to gain.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together
You're gonna have to learn to like
The rockin' of the waves, whatever.
C'mon now, it's not meant to be easy
But you're not gonna spend your life
Being sick over the side.
Would you look at yourself, staring,
Hypnotized, into the deep, green sea.
A breath of wind could blow you away,
So hang on to your head.
An inch of fog, you think you're going blind,
And an inch of snow, you're buried alive.
All weak in the knees, and tense in the hand,
You tear your eyes away or it'll never get better.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together
You're gonna have to learn to like
The rockin' of the waves, whatever.
C'mon now, it's not meant to be easy
But you're not gonna spend your life
Being sick over the side.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together
You're gonna have to learn to like
The rockin' of the waves, whatever.
C'mon now, it's not meant to be easy
But you're not gonna spend your life
Being sick over the side.
I can't get used to the changing of the tide.
On paper it looks good, you know.
You can't argue with that.
In practice, well, that's another story.
You think all this time is easy to get over?
I'll do anything, I'll do anything.
You panic every time the boat starts moving.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together
You're gonna have to learn to like
The rockin' of the waves, whatever.
C'mon now, it's not meant to be easy
But you're not gonna spend your life
Being sick over the side.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together
You're gonna have to learn to like
The rockin' of the waves, whatever.
C'mon now, it's not meant to be easy
But you're not gonna spend your life
Being sick over the side.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together
You're gonna have to learn to like
The rockin' of the waves, whatever.
C'mon now, it's not meant to be easy
But you're not gonna spend your life
Being sick over the side.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together, c'mon
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together, now.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together, c'mon,
C'mon Sea Legs, c'mon Sea Legs.
In theory it makes perfect sense.
That's no use to me now.
C'mon now, put a sweater on
And go outside for a while.
You know that you'll feel better,
And you've got everything to gain.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together
You're gonna have to learn to like
The rockin' of the waves, whatever.
C'mon now, it's not meant to be easy
But you're not gonna spend your life
Being sick over the side.
Would you look at yourself, staring,
Hypnotized, into the deep, green sea.
A breath of wind could blow you away,
So hang on to your head.
An inch of fog, you think you're going blind,
And an inch of snow, you're buried alive.
All weak in the knees, and tense in the hand,
You tear your eyes away or it'll never get better.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together
You're gonna have to learn to like
The rockin' of the waves, whatever.
C'mon now, it's not meant to be easy
But you're not gonna spend your life
Being sick over the side.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together
You're gonna have to learn to like
The rockin' of the waves, whatever.
C'mon now, it's not meant to be easy
But you're not gonna spend your life
Being sick over the side.
I can't get used to the changing of the tide.
On paper it looks good, you know.
You can't argue with that.
In practice, well, that's another story.
You think all this time is easy to get over?
I'll do anything, I'll do anything.
You panic every time the boat starts moving.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together
You're gonna have to learn to like
The rockin' of the waves, whatever.
C'mon now, it's not meant to be easy
But you're not gonna spend your life
Being sick over the side.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together
You're gonna have to learn to like
The rockin' of the waves, whatever.
C'mon now, it's not meant to be easy
But you're not gonna spend your life
Being sick over the side.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together
You're gonna have to learn to like
The rockin' of the waves, whatever.
C'mon now, it's not meant to be easy
But you're not gonna spend your life
Being sick over the side.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together, c'mon
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together, now.
C'mon Sea Legs, pull yourself together, c'mon,
C'mon Sea Legs, c'mon Sea Legs.
Lyrics submitted by empirexstate
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I LOVE this song! The meaning is pretty self-explanitory, but it makes me feel good that I can understand the lyrics for a change.
And an inch of snow, [you're made alive?]. You're buried alive? [You terrorize away?] or it'll never get better. Tear your eyes away?
I'm hearing "changing of the tides" but I'm probably wrong on this one. It'd be a bit of a syllable stretch if it is.
D'you, Malmo ... I realized at camp that it's Tear your eyes away and felt silly for mishearing it, and you're probably right about the snow.
As for the tides ... your way makes more sense, but I can't hear it. I wish I could. Jet engine seems a little strange.
Nevertheless ... I love this song. Amazing lyrics. Encouraging, in a weird way.
I think pretty clearly it "the changing of the tide", it is just that he sings it "cha-ay-ay-ay-ay-anging of the tide"
I'm just going to put the part that changes in caps.
I'm pretty sure it's "put a sweater on and go outside for a WALK"
"C'mon NOW, it's not meant to be easy"
"Staring hypnotized into A deep green sea"
"AN INCH of fog"
"And an inch of snow, YOU'RE BURIED ALIVE"
"IN practice, well, that's . . ."
Mmk, I'll just change it to changing then. And I agree with all your edits, except perhapts walk. I'll listen again. Thank you!
I love this song and it's meaning! It's pretty clear that he's talking about getting used to the changes and tough parts of life, and how it's hard to accept these things. You have to do it though, or risk wasting your life just fighting these changes and suffering. It's a great message.