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, I recall the last morning the sun would rise on the race of man, after which, it was clear, nothing could be the same again. When called to answer for their crimes, the only response that they could find was that it seemed like a good idea at the time. Now the sun in the sky has turned to dust, the rivers are running red with blood, and the cries of the helpless are never, never enough.
And those of us who were still alive were rightly afraid to go outside, when VuBu said, "This isn't shoegaze - this is suicide." Then they came with torches and pitchforks, carrying clubs, guns and sharp swords, when the loudest voice I ever heard said, "It's over."
And those of us who were still alive were rightly afraid to go outside, when VuBu said, "This isn't shoegaze - this is suicide." Then they came with torches and pitchforks, carrying clubs, guns and sharp swords, when the loudest voice I ever heard said, "It's over."
Lyrics submitted by thiagozero
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
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.
does anyone know who is speaking at the end of the song? is it some famous poet or what...either way it's a great touch.
it's from albert camus's 'the stranger'
I think that's fairly obvious, but is Patrick reading it or is it someone else?
it's okey chenoweth. he's this really old drama teacher who taught one of the band members. can't remember who though, i think it's eric or one of the ians.
The ending little bit is a reading from Camus' book The Stranger.
"And I, too, felt ready to start life all over again. It was as if that great rush of anger had washed me clean, emptied me of hope, and, gazing up at the dark sky spangled with its signs and stars, for the first time, the first, I laid my heart open to the benign indifference of the universe. To feel it so like myself, indeed, so brotherly, made me realize that I’d been happy, and that I was happy still. For all to be accomplished, for me to feel less lonely, all that remained to hope was that on the day of my execution there should be a huge crowd of spectators and that they should greet me with howls of execration." -- Albert Camus, The Stranger (L’Étranger) (1942)
the stranger! i love literary references! these guys are my new faves.
HA
IRONIC
MY BUDDY GAVE ME THAT BOOK ABOUT A MONTH OR 2 AGO
NEVER GOT AROUND TO CRACKIN IT OPEN
what/ who is VuBu?
From titusandronic.us/no-future-part-two-the-days-after-no-future: VuBu is short for VU Boots, the nickname of former guitarist Daniel Tews. From the band’s blog, “VU Boots” comes from Dan’s collection of Velvet Underground bootlegs.