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 am waiting in a world you don’t want
suffocating by an endless weak spot
please know, up here,
my hands are tied up too from
all i can see
makes it hard for me
the last one to say
good son
one more day
you know i am here, but i am losing
faith in what i see you celebrating
i know, up here,
i’ll be proven guilty
suffocating by an endless weak spot
please know, up here,
my hands are tied up too from
all i can see
makes it hard for me
the last one to say
good son
one more day
you know i am here, but i am losing
faith in what i see you celebrating
i know, up here,
i’ll be proven guilty
Lyrics submitted by bradley163
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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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it reapetes all that i can see.. yeah those lines
Interpreted as a song about the vicissitudes/regrets/guilt that are all part of complex relationships with loved ones...One parties view of their lifestyle/way of treating people is not positive... but there are two people being sung about...
-both are depressed but one more so -both are prisoners to their individual frustrations
In regard to the man he is remembering that once somebody called him a 'good son' although that now a distant memory, he is now just getting by a day at a time, almost counting down to his end? 'one more day' (finished)
He see's the other person possibly an ex-partner?? moving on, celebrating as if she has no cares or regrets, he see's through these 'celebration' and the fake-ness of it and is now resigned to his guilt both in his mind 'up here' or in the eyes of god?
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