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.
Shine,
So fragile
Try,
With such kindness
Self-regardless
Lie,
So truthfully
Unknowingly
Don't hide,
'Cause I'm on your side,
I'm on your side
Brighter,
Closer,
Such loss,
Such fear
So close,
We are
Not lost,
Not far
Shine,
So fragile
Don't hide,
'Cause I'm on your side,
I'm on your side
Brighter,
Closer,
Such loss,
Such fear
Stand off,
On fire
We touch
Desire
Jesus Christ
On fire
Desire
Jesus Christ on fire
I don't see you in my sky
I don't see you in my sky
I don't see you in my sky
Burnt out like faded stars,
We are
Burnt out like faded stars,
We are
If I could go right now,
So far
If I could go right now
So far
Burnt out like faded stars,
We are
Burnt out like faded stars,
We are
So fragile
Try,
With such kindness
Self-regardless
Lie,
So truthfully
Unknowingly
Don't hide,
'Cause I'm on your side,
I'm on your side
Brighter,
Closer,
Such loss,
Such fear
So close,
We are
Not lost,
Not far
Shine,
So fragile
Don't hide,
'Cause I'm on your side,
I'm on your side
Brighter,
Closer,
Such loss,
Such fear
Stand off,
On fire
We touch
Desire
Jesus Christ
On fire
Desire
Jesus Christ on fire
I don't see you in my sky
I don't see you in my sky
I don't see you in my sky
Burnt out like faded stars,
We are
Burnt out like faded stars,
We are
If I could go right now,
So far
If I could go right now
So far
Burnt out like faded stars,
We are
Burnt out like faded stars,
We are
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
You shine. So fragile. You try with such kindess, self regardless You lie so truthfully, unknowingly. You hide but I'm on your side. I'm on your side.
Brighter. closer. such lies, such fear Stand up on fire. Return desire.
You shine. So fragile. Don't hide 'cause I'm your side. I'm on your side.
Brighter love on such lies, such fear So close we are. Not us, not far.
Jesus Christ On fire. Desire. Jesus Christ. On fire
I'll see you in my sky. I'll see you in my sky. I'll see you in my sky.
Outside (But I'm inside??) my faded stars, we are. Outside my faded stars, we are.
If I could go (come?? jump? joy? glow?) right now so far If I could go (come? jump? joy? glow?) right now so far
Outside my faded stars, we are. Outside my faded stars, we are.
These were really difficult. At 2:42 it sort of sounds like "Jesus Christ" and at 2:55 it definitely sounds like Jesus Christ, which doesn't make sense.
Anyway, I think this song is about insecurities and how a person might feel they're not good enough for things - relationships, etc. And this song tells them, "You're wrong, just shine". Very appropriate, given that the next song on the album is "Stars"
Love Ulrich Schnauss, seems to be more lyrics on this album than his previous work.
Hey, whisk3rs, good job on the lyrics...
It is:
Jesus Christ's on fire both times (and I think it makes sense).
However, the line "Soft regardless" is definitely "Self regardless", which is the same as saying "selfless", i.e. not selfish.
Peace!
Beautiful song... Thanks whisk3rs for your point of view, but I have a question (my English isn't so good yet): what does "unchart but faded stars, we are" mean? A light of hope for them? Or something else? Best regards :).
This is the most beautiful song ever. It's so irritating when an artist doesn't publish lyrics with their work. But I guess sometimes its not about what you say but the sound that the words make as an addition to the song. Anyway, I heard the lyrics a little differently and Im going to put them here. I'm not saying mine are right, I think everyone is going to put a special meaning to this song when they hear it.
You shine So fragile Don't hide 'Cuz I'm your side I'm on your side
Bright On Love on Such love Such fear
So Close we are not us on fire
Jesus Crist on fire desire Jesus Crist on fire
I'll see you in my sky I'll see you in my sky I'll see you in my sky
Outside my faded stars we are Outside my faded stars we are
If I could come right now so far If I could come right now so far
Outside my faded stars we are outside my faded stars we are
Ack! It didnt publish the first part of the song! Here's the whole thing again:
You Shine So Fragile You try with such kindness self regardless
Laugh So truthfully All knowingly
You hide but I'm on your side I'm on your side
Bright On Closer Such love (lies???) Such fear
Stand up On fire Return Desire
You shine So fragile Don't hide 'Cuz I'm your side I'm on your side
Bright On Love on Such love Such fear
So Close we are not us on fire
Jesus Crist on fire desire Jesus Crist on fire
I'll see you in my sky I'll see you in my sky I'll see you in my sky
Outside my faded stars we are Outside my faded stars we are
If I could come right now so far If I could come right now so far
Outside my faded stars we are outside my faded stars we are
Just a correction: It's NOT "Jesus Christ on Fire"
It's "Jesus Christ, I'm on Fire. If you listen in a good pair of monitors or headphones you can hear this. The song is very stylized lyrically and there is a brever (reversed reverb) effect layered on the vocals that makes it difficult sometimes. And the way it is sung at that point, it most certainly at first sounds like "JC on Fire" because I'm & on are mashed up very quickly. Lyrically that wouldn't make any sense, and could be considered offensive. Kind of interesting that the addition of the word "I'm" makes it flow better lyrically. I'm sure Robert Duncan McVey new this when he wrote the lyrics.
just a correction I figured should be mentioned.
The rest of the lyrics looks on point everyone. Thanks for contributing. :)
I don't think the following is correct.
Laugh, So truthfully All known me
I think it's
You lie, So truthfully Unknowingly.
Your Shine So Fragile
oops. I think its also
your* shine so fragile.