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.
You will wait in the widow's peak
And while you watch the ships come in
I will take the early train
And I will take the back streets
Down to New Orleans
Before the avenues are swallowed
By the morning heat
And you will watch the ships come in
And I will take the early train
And I will make it home
We're stronger where
The strain had broken us
And there is fight in us
I know
That it will take more than
A heavy rain
To silence us
When there's so much for us
I know
And you will wait
At your post until
You've been relieved
And warn us all
If seas are dangerous
But you should rest
For a little while
And I will watch the ships come in
I'll alert the citizens
I'll sound the alarm
We're stronger where
The strain had broken us
And there is fight in us
I know
That it will take more than
A heavy rain
To silence us
When there's so much for us
I know
They've tethered the ships
In the harbor
They've anchored the rest
At sea
We're stronger than
Before the strain had broken us
And there is fight in us
I know
We're stronger than
Before the strain had broken us
And there is fight in us
I know
That it will take more than
A heavy rain
To silence us
When there's so much for us
I know
And while you watch the ships come in
I will take the early train
And I will take the back streets
Down to New Orleans
Before the avenues are swallowed
By the morning heat
And you will watch the ships come in
And I will take the early train
And I will make it home
We're stronger where
The strain had broken us
And there is fight in us
I know
That it will take more than
A heavy rain
To silence us
When there's so much for us
I know
And you will wait
At your post until
You've been relieved
And warn us all
If seas are dangerous
But you should rest
For a little while
And I will watch the ships come in
I'll alert the citizens
I'll sound the alarm
We're stronger where
The strain had broken us
And there is fight in us
I know
That it will take more than
A heavy rain
To silence us
When there's so much for us
I know
They've tethered the ships
In the harbor
They've anchored the rest
At sea
We're stronger than
Before the strain had broken us
And there is fight in us
I know
We're stronger than
Before the strain had broken us
And there is fight in us
I know
That it will take more than
A heavy rain
To silence us
When there's so much for us
I know
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that first chord is gorgeous
I really love this song. To me it sounds like a couple that broke up and got back together, and have a stronger relationship because of it. Also, in the first two choruses it's supposed to be "We're stronger where the strain had broken us" not "than before the strain had broken us" like in the end.
wow. this song is SO awesome. it's like, now probably in my top seven songs by dashboard confessional. well...maybe...that's hard to say, hehe.
anyways...i agree with myeyesrbright...basically he's leaving in one direction and she's looking in the other, but they're still together and he knows that they're stronger than ever in their relationship, because they've been through a lot together and made it through the storm. now he's saying that NOTHING can stop this.
My favourite Song on the new LP.
this is my favorite song off the new record. Personally, I have to disagree with everyone here so far. yes, it can be about a couple who broke up, got back together and have a stronger relationship because of it. But, I see the song as having a more powerful meaning. I think this song was written about the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans. First, the chorus supports this. "We're stronger than before the strain had broken us. And there is fight in us, I know That it will take more than a heavy rain to silence us. When there's so much for us" the second verse references this "sound the alarm," "I'll alert the citizens, "the ships tethered in the harbor." the beginning of the song "And while you watch the ships come in I will take the early train And I will take the backstreets Down to New Orleans" Their are too many references to that, it's a really uplifting and emotional song about not giving up, one of Chris's best written songs, Remember not every song has one interpretation and not every song has to be about a relationship, Dashboard is awesome I WILL SEE DC NOVEMBER 5TH AT WEBSTER HALL IN NYC!
i agree with both ideas of this song. the first time i heard it i thought of a relationship in which two people go through a hard time but then get back together. then after listening a few more times i thought about hurricane katrina. definately a power song and possibly my favorite from the new album.
hear this on their myspace page or just buy the record
Actually, I'm pretty sure that this song is about Hurricane Katrina. Chris went to New Orleans, which, obviously, is mentioned in the song (and which, also obviously, is where the hurricane hit). He played a show there with a bunch of other artists as a relief show to raise money for putting the city back together, etc. I think it's fairly obvious, knowing that Dashboard was involved in the relief show, and that he mentions New Orleans in the song. Also, when he says "It will take more than a heavy rain to silence us," he's basically saying that all the rain/water/torrents/etc. of the hurricane can destroy the city, but it can't break the human spirit and the instict to survive. "There's fight in us" refers to that instinct, as well. "We're stronger where the strain had broken us" means that now that we have survived such a tragedy, or "weathered such a storm," we're stronger because of it; it's the same basic idea as the old cliche "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." All this, along with all the other water metaphors throughout the song make me think that this is definitely about Hurricane Katrina, and Chris' (Dashboard's) little part they did to help in the relief.
this is beautiful and uplifting.
Love<3(: