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 this injustice
Unconsidered crime
Simple betrayals of the greatest kind
Why is it that you, that you told me
That all the things that I’d enjoy
Would only withhold me
(Here it goes…)
Keep on striving don’t you stop
Keep on climbing till the top
If you’re not swimming, then you’re sinking
There is not time for higher thinking
Prosper, Succeed, Conquer, Obtain
Accomplish, Produce, Become and Gain
Beauty, Health, Fortune and Fame
Cuz this will be the only way
Cuz there’s no concept of enough
We don’t care whose throat you cut
Keep on serving your plate’s not full
What are you doing resting fool?
I took it all as innate
And the expectations became ingrained
So it began to serve as my salvation
Therefore any moments rest
Was time not spent being the best
Suddenly all you taught me to achieve
Took over my life and got the best of me
Stuck obeying the cycle
But I’m not stupid
How long did you think you could hold me down?
But so much is clear and everything’s lucid
Now your fables, your fables, they mean shit to me now
Self-loathing and self-deprecating
Looking in the mirror incessantly hating
Everything I was and everything I wasn’t
I had done all you said to a tee
Still I couldn’t find a way to be happy
It wasn’t till the day I was met with the brunt
Of not earning what made my life significant
Suddenly all you promised became an illusion
And I found clinical depression in this confusion
I was driven insane
Supposed to
Have to
Need to
Me too
All the things that we will bleed through
Forward
Upward
Another mile
All you said would make us smile
Thrive
Acquire
Wretched liar
Wonder why we turn to ire?
Think you’ve got us by the balls
Think you’ve got us chained to walls?
I had to let it go
Cuz it was tearing at my soul
Obsessed questioning
Makes this beg for wreckoning
And I won’t hold this back for you
Cuz I will duke this out with you
Your fables that once frightened me
Now they have enlightened me
your ideologies
I know what to believe
Look who figured it out
Look who’s laughing now
Unconsidered crime
Simple betrayals of the greatest kind
Why is it that you, that you told me
That all the things that I’d enjoy
Would only withhold me
(Here it goes…)
Keep on striving don’t you stop
Keep on climbing till the top
If you’re not swimming, then you’re sinking
There is not time for higher thinking
Prosper, Succeed, Conquer, Obtain
Accomplish, Produce, Become and Gain
Beauty, Health, Fortune and Fame
Cuz this will be the only way
Cuz there’s no concept of enough
We don’t care whose throat you cut
Keep on serving your plate’s not full
What are you doing resting fool?
I took it all as innate
And the expectations became ingrained
So it began to serve as my salvation
Therefore any moments rest
Was time not spent being the best
Suddenly all you taught me to achieve
Took over my life and got the best of me
Stuck obeying the cycle
But I’m not stupid
How long did you think you could hold me down?
But so much is clear and everything’s lucid
Now your fables, your fables, they mean shit to me now
Self-loathing and self-deprecating
Looking in the mirror incessantly hating
Everything I was and everything I wasn’t
I had done all you said to a tee
Still I couldn’t find a way to be happy
It wasn’t till the day I was met with the brunt
Of not earning what made my life significant
Suddenly all you promised became an illusion
And I found clinical depression in this confusion
I was driven insane
Supposed to
Have to
Need to
Me too
All the things that we will bleed through
Forward
Upward
Another mile
All you said would make us smile
Thrive
Acquire
Wretched liar
Wonder why we turn to ire?
Think you’ve got us by the balls
Think you’ve got us chained to walls?
I had to let it go
Cuz it was tearing at my soul
Obsessed questioning
Makes this beg for wreckoning
And I won’t hold this back for you
Cuz I will duke this out with you
Your fables that once frightened me
Now they have enlightened me
your ideologies
I know what to believe
Look who figured it out
Look who’s laughing now
Lyrics submitted by darkness4
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.