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 watch that open flame
Bright light and beautiful orange
I watch that open flame
I watch that open flame
Dear God it’s calling my name
I watch that open flame
It was our job to make the money
And it was he who took all the risks
And we would sit down and wrestle our tummies
Some serotonin to kill the dope sick
But as you may know
lying face first in the snow
I dreamt of days so long ago
Do you remember them?
Where did they go?
Ah aaahhh…
What’d you say?
Oh no don’t reply
It’s just the voices inside
Oh no I can’t decide
They say you’re not here
I’m not
To feel no fear
It’s just my sickness
You’re nothing you’re no one
You don’t exist
It’s the voices inside
Which is mine
I wasn’t born with a silver spoon
That was then but I got one now
This ritual will kill me soon
Hey mom and dad be proud
Wednesday night they sweep the street
With my record they play for keeps
I don’t have any words to say
And we would wonder what took him so long
Half humming this unsung song
Did they find his works in his cold
Dead hand, a sunny day at Riker’s Island
More to say the least and never would it last
It was the nature of the beast
It meant present, no future, no past
Bright light and beautiful orange
I watch that open flame
I watch that open flame
Dear God it’s calling my name
I watch that open flame
It was our job to make the money
And it was he who took all the risks
And we would sit down and wrestle our tummies
Some serotonin to kill the dope sick
But as you may know
lying face first in the snow
I dreamt of days so long ago
Do you remember them?
Where did they go?
Ah aaahhh…
What’d you say?
Oh no don’t reply
It’s just the voices inside
Oh no I can’t decide
They say you’re not here
I’m not
To feel no fear
It’s just my sickness
You’re nothing you’re no one
You don’t exist
It’s the voices inside
Which is mine
I wasn’t born with a silver spoon
That was then but I got one now
This ritual will kill me soon
Hey mom and dad be proud
Wednesday night they sweep the street
With my record they play for keeps
I don’t have any words to say
And we would wonder what took him so long
Half humming this unsung song
Did they find his works in his cold
Dead hand, a sunny day at Riker’s Island
More to say the least and never would it last
It was the nature of the beast
It meant present, no future, no past
Lyrics submitted by .Three.Lefts.
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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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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Well, I got these lyrics off of their website, pagodaonline.com but listening to the song they seem a bit wrong in parts, but not enough to cause a real problem.
This song is kind of confusing...I'm not getting much of a meaning besides he may be going crazy and hearing voices in his head. He thinks that they're real, but when he tells people what he hears, they tell them they don't hear anything. Then he tries to brush it off by saying, "Oh, yeah, I know, I guess it was just something in my head, no big deal." But some of the lines throw me: "I wasn't born with a silver spoon/That was then but I got one now/This ritual will kill me soon" Maybe it's about his rise to fame? Or maybe, because I'm reading The Silence of the Lambs, he's a serial killer? I have no clue just making wild guesses. The serial killer one could work because a lot of them say they hear voices telling them to do things, and many are apathetic ("They say you're not here/I'm not/To feel no fear/It's just my sickness/You're nothing you're no one/You don't exist") Serial killers seperate themselves from their victims many times by pretending or making themselves believe that the victims aren't even human, or "real" and instead treating them as if they were dolls or something.
That kinda seems like a crazy theory for this song, but it's an idea.
The serial killer thing kinda makes sense. It sounds like to me he's done something that he regrets and the guilt is driving him insane.
it seems to me that this is about drug use heroin or morphine to be specific, and the way it makes you dismiss everyone else for that voice in your head telling you to go get your next fix, also the silver spoon part could be the spoon he cooks his junk in, cuz after that line he mentions that " this ritual will kill me soon." and also talks about being dope sick. I'm a former addict and maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I really don't think so. it all fits.
The song is about heroin.
Talking about cooking up
...watch the open flame Bright light and beautiful orange... Dear god it's calling my name.
The next part is in reference to him and his friends waiting around for their friend to get back with the dope, trying to stave-off the sickness.
I wasn't born with a silver spoon, that was then but I got one now... this ritual will kill me...
It's clear what he is saying...
We would wonder what took him so long... did they find his works in his cold dead hand....
"Works"meaning his rig.
More to say the least and never would it last, It was the nature of the beast, It meant present, no future, no past...
...again talking about the never ending cycle of addiction.