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.
Silence is a power and a tool
For you
For you
Wild Tigers I Have Known
They send me down
Messin' around
You keep your heart from your chest
It'll be gone just like the rest
'Cause it's a man's world
Say all the right words
And hold your heart from your chest
The silence and the color
and their beauty
Stands right and still for you
Holdin' flames
Holdin' hands in hearts
And their bindings
held tightly
Lyin' in the shady grass
Their teeth grinding
Inside is foreign
'Cause it's the magic hand
that holds you gently
And turns one into many
And there inside,
it's bloody to reach boldly
For truth spoken from mouth in his name
There will be wise men
singing, bringing you luck
Now there will be wise men
singing, bringing you luck
Now there will be wise men
singing, bringing you luck
Bringing you love
Now it's the precious summertime
Hand in pocket
Bright light
Wild Tigers I Have Known
They send me down
Messin' around
For you
For you
Wild Tigers I Have Known
They send me down
Messin' around
You keep your heart from your chest
It'll be gone just like the rest
'Cause it's a man's world
Say all the right words
And hold your heart from your chest
The silence and the color
and their beauty
Stands right and still for you
Holdin' flames
Holdin' hands in hearts
And their bindings
held tightly
Lyin' in the shady grass
Their teeth grinding
Inside is foreign
'Cause it's the magic hand
that holds you gently
And turns one into many
And there inside,
it's bloody to reach boldly
For truth spoken from mouth in his name
There will be wise men
singing, bringing you luck
Now there will be wise men
singing, bringing you luck
Now there will be wise men
singing, bringing you luck
Bringing you love
Now it's the precious summertime
Hand in pocket
Bright light
Wild Tigers I Have Known
They send me down
Messin' around
Lyrics submitted by gwendollina
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
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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from Rolling Stone October 18th Issue:
Dark Undercoat also pays homage to everyday heroes. White wrote "Wild Tigers I Have Known" for Cam Archer's movie of the same name, a Gus Van Sant-produced portrait of a gay teenager struggling to put his desires into action. "The song was a way for me to connect with the heartbreak of that experience," she says. "When you decide to go deep with darkness, you also unearth pieces of gold." --JENNIFER MAERZ
always nice when the artist explains it a little for us.
Love, and it's aftermath sometimes feels like this. Wild, exciting, painful, uplifting, depressing. Something much bigger than us: a wild tiger.