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.
Alarming to the senses
As the scent of latex
And blinding white lights greet me
Withered, weak, and weary
His bones are bare and brittle
Can't rid this taste of surgery
Of surgery, accusing me
Of perjury, like surgery correcting me
I'm bouncing in and out of my body
As my eyes roll in rhythm
And they wish to focus
But they can't bear to see
Our eyes are paralyzed
As your legs are canonized
With the water from these seas
To own a heart that's half of yours
These bones are mere accessories
Well these bones are mere accessories
The doctor says he heard me
Stutter as I muttered
A startling repetitious phrase
And under anesthesia
I told him over and over again
This body's yours to keep
And though he promised me
He said he'd do as I please
But I stand before you
Upon these same selfish feet
I'm bouncing in and out of my body
As my eyes roll in rhythm
And they wish to focus
But they can't bear to see
Our eyes are paralyzed
As your legs are canonized
With the water from these seas
To own a heart that's half of yours
These bones are mere accessories
His neck, is shattered by the tides
The ocean prays for his demise
But I swear to you
I watched his heart pump blood into those veins
Throwing punches at ocean waves
And as the tides retreat
I see the smile you see today
To own a heart that's half of yours
These bones are mere accessories
Our eyes are paralyzed
As your legs are canonized
With the water from these seas
To own a heart that's half of yours, yours
These bones are mere accessories
Throwing punches at ocean waves
As the scent of latex
And blinding white lights greet me
Withered, weak, and weary
His bones are bare and brittle
Can't rid this taste of surgery
Of surgery, accusing me
Of perjury, like surgery correcting me
I'm bouncing in and out of my body
As my eyes roll in rhythm
And they wish to focus
But they can't bear to see
Our eyes are paralyzed
As your legs are canonized
With the water from these seas
To own a heart that's half of yours
These bones are mere accessories
Well these bones are mere accessories
The doctor says he heard me
Stutter as I muttered
A startling repetitious phrase
And under anesthesia
I told him over and over again
This body's yours to keep
And though he promised me
He said he'd do as I please
But I stand before you
Upon these same selfish feet
I'm bouncing in and out of my body
As my eyes roll in rhythm
And they wish to focus
But they can't bear to see
Our eyes are paralyzed
As your legs are canonized
With the water from these seas
To own a heart that's half of yours
These bones are mere accessories
His neck, is shattered by the tides
The ocean prays for his demise
But I swear to you
I watched his heart pump blood into those veins
Throwing punches at ocean waves
And as the tides retreat
I see the smile you see today
To own a heart that's half of yours
These bones are mere accessories
Our eyes are paralyzed
As your legs are canonized
With the water from these seas
To own a heart that's half of yours, yours
These bones are mere accessories
Throwing punches at ocean waves
Lyrics submitted by darlingniki
The Gift Of Paralysis Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © THIS ISN'T MUSIC, DYNAMITE MONEY SONGS
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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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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Just a note on the phrase "Throwing punches at ocean waves":
Think of the motion one makes when swimming the breast stroke. You're basically punching forward with every stroke. I like that image of a lone swimmer, in his mind, punching off into the sea.
I did not know that Anthony Green was in this. I love him and now this song even more!
Its been updated! Here are the new lyrics: alarming to the senses as the scent of latex, and blinding white lights greet me. withered, weak, and weary, his bones are bare and brittle. Can't rid this taste of surgery, accusing me of perjury. like surgery, correcting me.
I'm bouncing in and out of my body eyes roll in rhythm, as they wish to focus, they can't bear to see...
Our eyes are paralyzed, And as your legs are canonized, With water from these seas. To own a heart that's half of yours, These bones are mere accessories.
The doctor said he heard me, Stutter as a I muttered a startling, repetitious phrase. And under anesthesia, I told him over and over again, "This body's yours to keep," and then he promised me, He said he'd do as I please. But I stand before you upon the same selfish feet.
his neck: shattered by the tides. the ocean prays for his demise. but I swear to you... I watched his heart pump blood into those veins, throwing punches at ocean waves. throwing punches at ocean waves. throwing punches at ocean waves. and as the tides retired, I saw the smile you see today. to own a heart that's half of yours... these bones are mere accessories.
aaah! yeah i saw that.
i can't figure out how to edit it to put up the new lyrics though haha.
we asked ryan what it was about...and he said he wrote it about a friend who was paralyzed in a swimming accident and about appreciating everything the way he does
hearing that made me love the song more then i already do...i think its amazing, it has everything...its catchy, has emotional appeal, and of course sound phenomenal
Anthony's guest vocals are delicious.
This song, is delicious.
The lyrics, are the most deliciousness.
EOTC is tasty.
i love this song! i love the part where its like :, I told him over and over again, "This body's yours to keep," and then he promised me, He said he'd do as I please. But I stand before you upon the same selfish feet.
the vocals are so powerful ryans voice is amazinnggg
its about a paralyzed surfer
Ouspensky -- explain what you mean by that?
Anyway, the meaning of this song is pretty obvious. I love this band. I love this song.
when i listen to this song, i hear a different meaning. but thats the beauty of music, it can be interpretated in many ways.
So, the meaning of the song for me( even if I know it's about his friend in a water accident) is that it's about battling depression and then knowing about all the love people have for you.
"I'm bouncing in and out of my body Eyes roll in rhythm As they wish to focus They can't bear to see"
Knowing your on that hospital bed and seeing loved ones all around you, you see you never wanted to cause them pain.
"The doctor said he heard me Stutter as a I muttered A startling, repetitious phrase And under anesthesia I told him over and over again "This body's yours to keep," And though he promised me He said he'd do as I please I stand before you upon the same selfish feet"
Maybe being a suicide survivor, and not wanting to be at first. The last line would support the fact that suicide is a selfish act.
"his neck: shattered by the tides. the ocean prays for his demise. but I swear to you... I watched his heart pump blood into those veins"
When I think of depression, it's a like a crushing dark blue sea. So in that mind set, he wants to die. But then he realizes and finds hope, coming back to life, mentally. "Throwing punches at ocean waves" Fighting that wave of depression, not letting it take over and drown you.
Then "to own a heart thats half of yours, these bones are mere accessories" Loving someone, and having them apart of you. It's like your one person and it doesn't matter what happens to you ever- knowing that you'll always be with that person.
Well, this is just the meaning I take out of this song, so I'm not saying it's the right one.