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.
This place is set to break
It's just as safe for me outside tonight
And I want that
I face the storm's appetite
From the lighthouse
And I want that
I embrace the storm and the night
Whole
What do the waves have to say, now?
What do the waves have to say, now now
Slow now
I let the waves have their way
Now now
Slow
I let the waves have their day
And I want that
Here I've been living unloosened from sin
Upward and outward
Begin, begin
Here I've been loosened, unliving within
Inwardly urgent
I'm sinking again
The lighthouse
It's just as safe for me outside tonight
And I want that
I face the storm's appetite
From the lighthouse
And I want that
I embrace the storm and the night
Whole
What do the waves have to say, now?
What do the waves have to say, now now
Slow now
I let the waves have their way
Now now
Slow
I let the waves have their day
And I want that
Here I've been living unloosened from sin
Upward and outward
Begin, begin
Here I've been loosened, unliving within
Inwardly urgent
I'm sinking again
The lighthouse
Lyrics submitted by ZombieStar, edited by legislacerator, TheBronze
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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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Those lyrics are totally wrong, here's the real deal, it makes more sense:
This place is set to break It's just as safe for me outside tonight And I want that I face the storm's appetite From the lighthouse
And I want that I embrace the storm and the night Whole
What do the waves have to say What do the waves have to say now now Slow now I let the waves have their way Now now Slow I let the waves have their day
Here I've been living unloosened from sin Upward and outward Begin, begin
Here I've been loosened, unliving within Inwardly urgent I'm sinking again
The lighthouse
These are correct, except you missed "And I want that" in the middle".<br /> Well done tho, the ones listed are completely wrong.
This song is brilliant both literally and figuratively speaking. The eerie fading guitar effect seemingly channels a lighthouse as it scans over the ocean at night. When the sound is loudest, the light is brightest, almost blinding. Then it quickly slips away, just as the big bright spot would from vision. Beautiful.
Listen to the music, can't you feel waves? It's soo obvious
I think it's about the life of a lighthouse the vocal is soo calm and rather cold, like a lighthouse
The lighthouse knows that he will collapse, he sees the giant wave coming towards. But he is still calm-as a building-tower...
"I warned them" its life was spent warning people, the use of a lighthouse
"What do the waves have to say now? What do the waves have to say now?" the lighthouse spent its life listening to the waves
"Here I've been living On roofs made from sin I put an outward, "Begin, begin."" It has been living in civilization and man-made lands(roofs made from sin). He helped them with their sins, showed them their ways and let them begin...
"Here I've been lucid I'm living within Inwardly urgent And sinking again" He knows the upcoming wave will destroy it, he prepares for it very calmly...
The correct lyrics, from their official website:
This place is set to break It's just as safe for me outside tonight And I want that I face the storm’s appetite From the lighthouse
And I want that I embrace the storm and the night Whole
What do the waves have to say now? What do the waves have to say now now? Slow now I let the waves have their way, now now Slow I let the waves have their day
And I want that
Here I've been living, unloosened from sin Upward and outward Begin, begin
Here I've been loosened, unliving within Inwardly urgent And sinking again
The lighthouse
Much different from what's on here, changes the way you look at the song quite a bit.
Gorgeous song...not really sure what it means though, assuming that it's not actually about a lighthouse.
beautiful song. its really different from all the others on the album. not sure what it means either..seems to me like its about change or giving up? who knows..
@ahh_eloquence Over 9 years later, finally my response... this is the last song on OLTA... the relationship is over... My signal still flashes... I'm around
Sounds like The Godfather Finale.
I love this song, the imagery is just gorgeous and epic.. I think it's about letting go. He was safe in the lighthouse while the people outside were taken by the waves and the storm, and he's been trying to get over it, trying to begin anew, but he's finding it hard. He can't leave the lighthouse.
To me it seems as if this song is about rehab. I'm too tired to explain it in detail, but if you read through the lyrics with that in mind there are some indications, aren't there?
@downtothesea Over 9 years later, finally my response... this is the last song on OLTA... the relationship is over... My signal still flashes... I'm around
i really like that idea, i think it's perfect.