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.
Oh well, in five years time we could be walking round a zoo
With the sun shining down over me and you
And there'll be love in the bodies of the elephants, too
I'll put my hand over your eyes but you'll peek through
And there'll be sun, sun, sun all over our bodies
And sun, sun, sun all down our necks
And there'll be sun, sun, sun all over our faces
And sun, sun, sun, so what the heck
'Cause I'll be laughing at all your silly little jokes
And we'll be laughing about how we used to smoke
All those stupid little cigarettes and drink stupid wine
'Cause its what we needed to have a good time
But it was fun, fun, fun when we were drinking
It was fun, fun, fun when we were drunk
And it was fun, fun, fun when we were laughing
It was fun, fun, fun, oh, it was fun
Oh well, I look at you and say it's the happiest that I've ever been
And I'll say I no longer feel I have to be James Dean
And she'll say, yeah well, I feel pretty a happy too
And I'm always pretty happy when I'm just kicking back with you
And it'll be love, love, love all through our bodies
And love, love, love all through our minds
And it'll be love, love, love all over her face
And love, love, love all over mine
And though admittedly all these moments are just in my head
I'll be thinking bout them as I'm lying in bed
And I know that admittedly it might not even come true
But in my mind I'm havin' a pretty good time with you
Oh, in five years time I might not know you
In five years time we might not speak
Oh, in five years time we might not get along
In five years time you might just prove me wrong
Oh, there'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love
With the sun shining down over me and you
And there'll be love in the bodies of the elephants, too
I'll put my hand over your eyes but you'll peek through
And there'll be sun, sun, sun all over our bodies
And sun, sun, sun all down our necks
And there'll be sun, sun, sun all over our faces
And sun, sun, sun, so what the heck
'Cause I'll be laughing at all your silly little jokes
And we'll be laughing about how we used to smoke
All those stupid little cigarettes and drink stupid wine
'Cause its what we needed to have a good time
But it was fun, fun, fun when we were drinking
It was fun, fun, fun when we were drunk
And it was fun, fun, fun when we were laughing
It was fun, fun, fun, oh, it was fun
Oh well, I look at you and say it's the happiest that I've ever been
And I'll say I no longer feel I have to be James Dean
And she'll say, yeah well, I feel pretty a happy too
And I'm always pretty happy when I'm just kicking back with you
And it'll be love, love, love all through our bodies
And love, love, love all through our minds
And it'll be love, love, love all over her face
And love, love, love all over mine
And though admittedly all these moments are just in my head
I'll be thinking bout them as I'm lying in bed
And I know that admittedly it might not even come true
But in my mind I'm havin' a pretty good time with you
Oh, in five years time I might not know you
In five years time we might not speak
Oh, in five years time we might not get along
In five years time you might just prove me wrong
Oh, there'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love, love, love wherever you go
There'll be love
Lyrics submitted by hologram heart, edited by mahouse, itscujo, liniwa
5 Years Time Lyrics as written by Charles Fink
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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 hate it when people interpret songs by what they know about the person who wrote them and things like that.... but I'm going to do just that!
We know what actually happened. 5 years after this song was written, Laura Marling left this guy who wrote this song. The end is sad. And I just listened to Noah's & The Whale second's album (5 Years Time is off the first), and it's ALL about the break up, and how said and broken he is. Very sad, really touching.
And that lights 5 Years Time in a bit different way... The character in the song is very sensitive, and his all world depends on her (as sung in the second album). So I wouldn't call this song pessimistic, but there is definitely a small black cloud that hangs in there, which has nothing to do with by-the-book-summery-love-songs, I think he knows that if she leaves, he falls apart.
I would fall apart too if Laura Marling left me!