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.
Now I have seen the hedonistic face
Of the other side of our lives
Impudent reflections
Of the truth we fold away
A downward spiral to a bottomless end
Reaching depths to where we all descend
No rhyme, no reason
Learn the lesson, we failed
We should have seen it coming
No way to turn back now from this place
Our mission clouded the falling
A lifetime incomplete
Deprived in silent misanthropic voids
As we tie the blindfold tight
Struggling with the harness
From when good went bad and bad got worse
So I remember when will was free
Neglect, insufficiency
Time will tell, judgement fell
We've moved beyond the pale
We should have seen it coming...
It all seems so pointless
It all seems so dull
But this is the last stand
I prayed this day wouldn't come
We should have seen it coming...
Of the other side of our lives
Impudent reflections
Of the truth we fold away
A downward spiral to a bottomless end
Reaching depths to where we all descend
No rhyme, no reason
Learn the lesson, we failed
We should have seen it coming
No way to turn back now from this place
Our mission clouded the falling
A lifetime incomplete
Deprived in silent misanthropic voids
As we tie the blindfold tight
Struggling with the harness
From when good went bad and bad got worse
So I remember when will was free
Neglect, insufficiency
Time will tell, judgement fell
We've moved beyond the pale
We should have seen it coming...
It all seems so pointless
It all seems so dull
But this is the last stand
I prayed this day wouldn't come
We should have seen it coming...
Lyrics submitted by nufy8
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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