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 thought I'd come and see you
And your long and lazy scene
Given stage direction, a finger on a magazine
I'll call you what I knew you
I can't get used to your new name
Send a body double over with your keys
She'll see you in an hour
Everybody quiet please
Essex House is down the road
The actors want to be alone
Your room is still and soft as a jeweler's
Incidental music coming down the hall
Remember when I never had to wait for you at all
I wish my hands were yours
As I lay your keys on a magazine
Take me to LaGuardia
My baby's gonna pay for me
Bottle from the duty-free
I'll drink it all across the sea
Lay me down in business class
With headphones and a sleeping mask
She's gonna pay for me
She's gonna pay for me
Brother, I wish you were home
Just tell me you're not alone
Call me back, I'm on a plane
I think I'm somewhere over Spain
I'm in the dark without the stars
I've never seen a black so dark
Thought I'd be above the rain
Somewhere on a higher plane
Oh, brother, I wish you were home
My brother, I wish you were home
Baby, you're asleep by now
You never stayed awake for me
You never waited up for me
No, you never waited up for me
Now there is nothing I can do
I lost you but I beat the sound
Couldn't if I wanted to
The Concorde doesn't turn around
Oh, brother, I wish you were home
My baby is in a room alone
My brother, I wish you were home
And your long and lazy scene
Given stage direction, a finger on a magazine
I'll call you what I knew you
I can't get used to your new name
Send a body double over with your keys
She'll see you in an hour
Everybody quiet please
Essex House is down the road
The actors want to be alone
Your room is still and soft as a jeweler's
Incidental music coming down the hall
Remember when I never had to wait for you at all
I wish my hands were yours
As I lay your keys on a magazine
Take me to LaGuardia
My baby's gonna pay for me
Bottle from the duty-free
I'll drink it all across the sea
Lay me down in business class
With headphones and a sleeping mask
She's gonna pay for me
She's gonna pay for me
Brother, I wish you were home
Just tell me you're not alone
Call me back, I'm on a plane
I think I'm somewhere over Spain
I'm in the dark without the stars
I've never seen a black so dark
Thought I'd be above the rain
Somewhere on a higher plane
Oh, brother, I wish you were home
My brother, I wish you were home
Baby, you're asleep by now
You never stayed awake for me
You never waited up for me
No, you never waited up for me
Now there is nothing I can do
I lost you but I beat the sound
Couldn't if I wanted to
The Concorde doesn't turn around
Oh, brother, I wish you were home
My baby is in a room alone
My brother, I wish you were home
Lyrics submitted by adva, edited by Mellow_Harsher, dramamoose
Pay for Me Lyrics as written by Matthew D. Berninger Bryan Devendorf
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.”
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Seconding 'this Concord doesn't turn around.' 'Cockpit' would make sense, but I don't hear a 'p' or a 't' in his pronunciation.
Also, fairly certain this is about visiting someone he used to date, and that disappointed expectation that some of their old chemistry would remain. She hasn't just moved on from him though -- she's moved on from the whole life in which they knew one another. He seems a little envious, but it's not his world, so he gets smashed during his flight home.