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.
'cause I'm so scared of dying since your fall
I'm so scared of dying when you watched it go down, down
And I watched your face in the fire near Jamison Hall
While your sister and brother read chapters on how your skin burned
You're singing hallelujah
And the angels came and took you down
You asked the right direction
They told you it's protection you know
Did you believe 'em?
Or are they liars?
Do you believe 'em?
What a lie
'Cause I'm so scared of dying since I saw your skin fall
I'm so scared of dying since you watched it go down, down, down
Now I told you I need you and you screamed "hallelujah, here we go"
And I hoped you believed me when I told you you were beautiful
'Cause I meant it, man
But I didn't always mean it
Does that make me a liar?
I mean it
What a lie
These cuts on my fingers, from the laundry I've done
Washing out all your prints, and the fire in my hall
Don't worry about it, I heard what you said and it's good
And I appreciate it more than any other man ever could
God, I believe you, anyway
Just leave me, any day
Where I told you I loved you
God damn'ing I meant it
When I told you I loved you
Good Jesus, I meant it
Now your legs look like fire crackers
And oh shit you're not breathing
But man I can feel you inside
Don't waste away under the ground
Rise up for me under the ground
'cause I'm wasting away under the ground
I'm so scared of dying when you watched it go down, down
And I watched your face in the fire near Jamison Hall
While your sister and brother read chapters on how your skin burned
You're singing hallelujah
And the angels came and took you down
You asked the right direction
They told you it's protection you know
Did you believe 'em?
Or are they liars?
Do you believe 'em?
What a lie
'Cause I'm so scared of dying since I saw your skin fall
I'm so scared of dying since you watched it go down, down, down
Now I told you I need you and you screamed "hallelujah, here we go"
And I hoped you believed me when I told you you were beautiful
'Cause I meant it, man
But I didn't always mean it
Does that make me a liar?
I mean it
What a lie
These cuts on my fingers, from the laundry I've done
Washing out all your prints, and the fire in my hall
Don't worry about it, I heard what you said and it's good
And I appreciate it more than any other man ever could
God, I believe you, anyway
Just leave me, any day
Where I told you I loved you
God damn'ing I meant it
When I told you I loved you
Good Jesus, I meant it
Now your legs look like fire crackers
And oh shit you're not breathing
But man I can feel you inside
Don't waste away under the ground
Rise up for me under the ground
'cause I'm wasting away under the ground
Lyrics submitted by Technophobia, edited by Mellow_Harsher, SephNite
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
also 'don't waste away, under the ground rise up for me, under the ground cause I'm wasting away, under the ground'