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.
This man came to me, was looking for action
Pulled out a blade to my neck
He said,” Call me the butcher cause that’s my trade
You know that I’ve come to collect”
I said hit me now and we’ll see where it leads
Cut me out if you think I will bleed
Strike me down if you think you’re a man
Cause I know that you don’t understand
Because there is no weapon, there is no blade
You wonder why I’m not afraid
There is no weapon, there is no blade
You’ll never kill Him that lives inside of me
He looked into my eyes, all he saw was conviction
Dropping the blade to the earth
I said,” How could you think that I’d ever retreat?
You know that I’m already dead”
I said hit me now and we’ll see where it leads
Cut me out if you think I will bleed
Strike me down if you think you’re a man
Cause I know that you don’t understand
Because there is no weapon, there is no blade
You wonder why I’m not afraid
There is no weapon, there is no blade
I’ve erased all of my fear of the grave
There is no weapon, there is no blade
You wonder why I’m not afraid
There is no weapon, there is no blade
You’ll never kill Him that lives inside of me
Because there is no weapon, there is no blade
You wonder why I’m not afraid
There is no weapon, there is no blade
I’ve erased all of my fear of the grave
Because there is no weapon, there is no blade
You wonder why I’m not afraid
There is no weapon, there is no blade
You’ll never kill Him that lives inside of me
Pulled out a blade to my neck
He said,” Call me the butcher cause that’s my trade
You know that I’ve come to collect”
I said hit me now and we’ll see where it leads
Cut me out if you think I will bleed
Strike me down if you think you’re a man
Cause I know that you don’t understand
Because there is no weapon, there is no blade
You wonder why I’m not afraid
There is no weapon, there is no blade
You’ll never kill Him that lives inside of me
He looked into my eyes, all he saw was conviction
Dropping the blade to the earth
I said,” How could you think that I’d ever retreat?
You know that I’m already dead”
I said hit me now and we’ll see where it leads
Cut me out if you think I will bleed
Strike me down if you think you’re a man
Cause I know that you don’t understand
Because there is no weapon, there is no blade
You wonder why I’m not afraid
There is no weapon, there is no blade
I’ve erased all of my fear of the grave
There is no weapon, there is no blade
You wonder why I’m not afraid
There is no weapon, there is no blade
You’ll never kill Him that lives inside of me
Because there is no weapon, there is no blade
You wonder why I’m not afraid
There is no weapon, there is no blade
I’ve erased all of my fear of the grave
Because there is no weapon, there is no blade
You wonder why I’m not afraid
There is no weapon, there is no blade
You’ll never kill Him that lives inside of me
Lyrics submitted by MuseAgainst
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
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.
Fast Car
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"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.
The Night We Met
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Mental Istid
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
From an interview with Andrew of Project 86:
"I kind of wanted to write a song that was about this sort of fictitious character that was kind of a bully. And it's sort of for anyone who's in a position of one-downed, whether that be at work, or social circle, in a relationship, whatever, where you're kind of being bullied by someone. It's sort of written to empower, being able to respond to someone who's like that. Realizing who you are. Having confidence in who you are and taking stock in yourself for the sake of knowing that I'm OK, God has me, I don't have to fear a human being, no matter who they are or what they're doing. I don't have to fear that. Easy for me to say because maybe some people are in situations where they can't fight back. But maybe it's a song of encouragement for someone who's in that position where it's like, "Dude, this life is this long makes a small space with his fingers." The line says, "You know I'm already dead," meaning we're mortal and we don't live very long. So I'm going to have peace no matter what you're doing to me, you can't touch what's inside of me. That's kind of the running theme in every song I write anyways, in some form. And there's a moment at the end of the very last song, when it comes back in. I think that is the crux of the whole record. Y'know, it says, "Who do I belong to?" - that whole thing. We have some stage banners that we weren't able to use tonight, but it says "Project 86" on the back and it just says "Immortal. Eternal." - that whole thing - on it. "Who do I belong to?" That's the question of the record. "Who do you belong to?" because everybody has a god. Everybody has something that they treasure in their hearts, even if they say that they don't, they do. Everybody has a god. So who do YOU belong to? And that's the [album artwork] layout. That's the question. It's intentionally minimal. I want people to go, "That's it?!" And YEAH! You better believe that's it!! Cause that question is way more important than any art we can put in any kind of layout."
Source: jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/Project86_2009.asp
@blondy269 Wow. Just wow! Great explanation to an impressive song! (Thanks for that blondy269)... :)
awesome song!
awesome song!
Proper lyrics:
This man came to me, he was looking for action. Pulling a blade to my neck, He said, "Call me the butcher, 'cause thats my trade, And you know that I’ve come to collect."
I said, "Hit me now, and we’ll see where it leads. Cut me out, if you think I will bleed. Strike me down, if you think you're a man, 'Cause I know that you don't understand."
Because there is no weapon, there is no blade. You wonder why I’m not afraid? There is no weapon, there is no blade. You’ll never kill Him that lives inside of me.
He looked into my eyes, all he saw was conviction. Dropping the blade to the earth, I said, "How could you think that I’d ever retreat? You know that I'm already dead."
I said, "Hit me now, and we’ll see where it leads. Cut me out, if you think I will bleed. Strike me down, if you think you're a man, 'Cause I know that you don't understand."
Because there is no weapon, there is no blade. You wonder why I’m not afraid? There is no weapon, there is no blade. I’ve erased all of my fear of the grave. There is no weapon, there is no blade. You wonder why I’m not afraid? There is no weapon, there is no blade. You’ll never kill Him that lives inside of me. [x2]