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.
I can still remember
The words and what they meant
As we etched them with our fingers
In years of wet cement
The days blurred into each other
Though everything seemed clear
We cruised along at half speed
But then we shifted gears
We ran like vampires from a thousand burning suns
But even then we should have stayed
But we ran away
Now all my friends have gone
Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved
Runaway
But what are we running from?
A show of hands from those in this audience of one
Where have they gone?
Identities assume us
As nine and five add up
Synchronizing watches
To the seconds that we lost
I looked up and saw you
I know that you saw me
We froze but for a moment
In empathy
I brought down the sky for you but all you did was shrug
You gave my emptiness a name
And you ran away
Now all my friends have gone
Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved
Runaway
But what are we running from?
A show of hands from those in this audience of one
Where have they gone?
We're all OK, until the day we're not
The surface shines, while the inside rots
We raced the sunset and we almost won
We slammed the brakes, but the wheels went on
But we ran away
Now all my friends have gone
Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved
Runaway
But what are we running from?
A show of hands from those in this audience of one
Where have they gone?
The words and what they meant
As we etched them with our fingers
In years of wet cement
The days blurred into each other
Though everything seemed clear
We cruised along at half speed
But then we shifted gears
We ran like vampires from a thousand burning suns
But even then we should have stayed
But we ran away
Now all my friends have gone
Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved
Runaway
But what are we running from?
A show of hands from those in this audience of one
Where have they gone?
Identities assume us
As nine and five add up
Synchronizing watches
To the seconds that we lost
I looked up and saw you
I know that you saw me
We froze but for a moment
In empathy
I brought down the sky for you but all you did was shrug
You gave my emptiness a name
And you ran away
Now all my friends have gone
Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved
Runaway
But what are we running from?
A show of hands from those in this audience of one
Where have they gone?
We're all OK, until the day we're not
The surface shines, while the inside rots
We raced the sunset and we almost won
We slammed the brakes, but the wheels went on
But we ran away
Now all my friends have gone
Maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved
Runaway
But what are we running from?
A show of hands from those in this audience of one
Where have they gone?
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Great version of a great song,
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catchy song, not original RA but still great lyrics. you cant expect them to put out songs like everchanging and blood-red, white and blue. They are getting older and still putting out great meaningful songs. I would have to say this is not my favorite song or favorite sound but it does mix well on my randomized rise against list on my Ipod. When i heard this song as well as some of the others I knew people would be pissed but Its still a great song compared to what else is on the radio. Plus this CD shows how great they are that their songs can kick ass in any genre, pop, punk, hardcore, rock, acoustic, indy, I seriously;y think they just want to get their music out there because the message in their songs should be heard by more than one group of people. Its amazing but no matter what song you click on, its usually someones favorite song and that is pretty sweet. Rise against are genius writers and artists and hands down my favorite band. I agree that everyone is entitled to an opinion but as a person that doesn't exactly like "the sound" of this song, I think its still amazing and well done, and I hope people who do like this sound love it as much as I love everchanging or blood-red, white and blue.
With all that said. I think this song is about growing up and losing close friends and rememberign the times that you used to have with friends or an Ex. I think it sorta a sad song. the lines : "Identities assume us As nine and five add up Synchronizing watches To the seconds that we lost" to me this is saying life is now a job and its sucks that we cant go back to the things we used to do before we had responsibility. The innocence and freedom is gone and now the person in this song is lonely and wishing things were different. Another idea I had was when guys get g/fs and blow off their friends and then when there's no more g/f and you have no more friends either. these are just my interpretations. My favorite part of RA songs as they can be interpreted differently by different people and their situations. Want to hear what others think but not if they are gonna diss the song!
i disagree, i think this song is pretty much the new age rise against, just like AFI went from punk music to a little more emo (lack of a better word). i love rise against's new songs, a lot of them are really good but i think that they won't ever beat the sufferer and the witness.<br /> <br /> as for the interpretation i think your right but i think the song is about change and acceptance in life not so much just a relationship or close friends. in the music video a kid plays all by himself with army men and what looks to be action figures that symbolize a regular city. he takes away buildings and puts army fortresses and takes school buses and replaces them with tanks. there's also a clip of an action figure funeral with the coffin bearing an american flag over it. from the beginning of the video it suggests maybe the kid's dad had died at war because the video is obviously militaristic and the background and video suggest a governmental lifestyle for the kid. once again i think the interpretation is simply learning to deal with your problems whether it be a girlfriend/boyfriend, friends, death, etc. whatever it may be he's saying to deal with it. "we ran like vampires from a thousand burning suns... we ran away now all my friends are gone, maybe we've outgrown all the things that we once loved" to me is saying as you grow up you learn running away solves nothing, and can sometimes cause more damage to whatever it might be