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.
How could he know
This new dawn's light
Would change his life forever?
Set sail to sea
But pulled off course
By the light of golden treasure
Was he the one causing pain
With his careless dreaming?
Been afraid
Always afraid
Of the things he's feeling
He could just be gone
He would just sail on
He'll just sail on
How can I belong,
When I've got nowhere to go?
Shuffled streets of gold
How come it's got so cold?
How can I be lost?
When my ship was made to drift
And how can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?
His days drift on
Inside his fog
It's thick and suffocating
This sinking life
Outside it's hell
Inside, intoxicating
Ship's run aground
Like his life
The water's much too shallow
He goes down
Down with his ship
Sinking in the shadows
Now a castaway
They've all gone away
All gone away
How can I belong,
When I've got nowhere to go?
Shuffled streets of gold
How come it's got so cold?
How can I be lost?
When my ship was made to drift
And how can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?
Forgive me
Forgive me not
Forgive me
Forgive me not
Forgive me
Forgive me not
Forgive me
Forgive me
Why can't I forgive me?
(Solo)
Set sail to sea
But pulled off course
By the light of golden treasure
How could he know
This new dawn's light
Would change his life forever?
How can I belong,
When I've got nowhere to go?
Shuffled streets of gold
How come it's got so cold?
How can I be lost?
When my ship was made to drift
And how can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?
This new dawn's light
Would change his life forever?
Set sail to sea
But pulled off course
By the light of golden treasure
Was he the one causing pain
With his careless dreaming?
Been afraid
Always afraid
Of the things he's feeling
He could just be gone
He would just sail on
He'll just sail on
How can I belong,
When I've got nowhere to go?
Shuffled streets of gold
How come it's got so cold?
How can I be lost?
When my ship was made to drift
And how can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?
His days drift on
Inside his fog
It's thick and suffocating
This sinking life
Outside it's hell
Inside, intoxicating
Ship's run aground
Like his life
The water's much too shallow
He goes down
Down with his ship
Sinking in the shadows
Now a castaway
They've all gone away
All gone away
How can I belong,
When I've got nowhere to go?
Shuffled streets of gold
How come it's got so cold?
How can I be lost?
When my ship was made to drift
And how can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?
Forgive me
Forgive me not
Forgive me
Forgive me not
Forgive me
Forgive me not
Forgive me
Forgive me
Why can't I forgive me?
(Solo)
Set sail to sea
But pulled off course
By the light of golden treasure
How could he know
This new dawn's light
Would change his life forever?
How can I belong,
When I've got nowhere to go?
Shuffled streets of gold
How come it's got so cold?
How can I be lost?
When my ship was made to drift
And how can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?
Lyrics submitted by slipvayne94bm
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cant belive im first to post comment. i think the songa about a man who cant forgive himmself How can I be lost? When my ship was made to drift And how can I blame you When it's me I can't forgive?
we hear the sad intro like someone looking to the past and cry over it
unlike Unforgiven 1 2 , it was strong intro
i think he is talking about himself
Was he the one causing pain With his careless dreaming? Been afraid Always afraid Of the things he's feeling
This is a new one he is changing the point of view Unforgiven one about he is Unforgiven and it was out of his hand Unforgiven 2 he turn it to her , in the same time about himself like he said : so WTF
but in 3 How can I be lost? When my ship was made to drift And how can I blame you When it's me I can't forgive?
he can’t forgive himself , he knew that the ship is made to drift but he didn’t care :
Was he the one causing pain With his careless dreaming?
because there others hurt because of his selfish dreams
Ship's run aground Like his life The water's much too shallow
He goes down Down with his ship Sinking in the shadows