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.
Won't you rest your ruined head, my weary child?
This would 'twas not for thee
I send you now the promised land
Not one breath did you heave stilly born
Unto this earth sleeping so soundly in my arms
A slug-like trail of ocher fluids where we've danced
The sun is setting now, I hold a modest hand in vain
My lung emit a sigh, what fiend would
Take these tiny eyes and show them to the dark
God's just a lie
Never born into this den of sin
That which erodes the most tender of things
After the eve have fallen
The lights are sinking low
Shadows would hide that life
In him could never grow
A hollow gaze peers from the cradle black
Imagining his shining eyes just sockets staring back
Witness the baptism skeletal the world would shun
Reject the purest form of love, a mother to her son
I proceed to nurse him
I could almost smile
I entertain the notion
That he did live this while
But he's dead to this world
Carved out just like my heart
Soaked up and washed so lovingly
Cherished son unconditionally
In our secret world alone
Situation delicate crudely frowned upon
In our sacred love undone
Never born into this den of sin
That which erodes the most tender of things
After the eve has fallen
The lights are sinking low
Shadows would hide that life
In him could never grow
A hollow gaze peers from the cradle black
Imagining his shining eyes just sockets staring back
Witness the baptism skeletal the world would shun
Reject the purest form of love, a mother to her putrid rotting son
This would 'twas not for thee
I send you now the promised land
Not one breath did you heave stilly born
Unto this earth sleeping so soundly in my arms
A slug-like trail of ocher fluids where we've danced
The sun is setting now, I hold a modest hand in vain
My lung emit a sigh, what fiend would
Take these tiny eyes and show them to the dark
God's just a lie
Never born into this den of sin
That which erodes the most tender of things
After the eve have fallen
The lights are sinking low
Shadows would hide that life
In him could never grow
A hollow gaze peers from the cradle black
Imagining his shining eyes just sockets staring back
Witness the baptism skeletal the world would shun
Reject the purest form of love, a mother to her son
I proceed to nurse him
I could almost smile
I entertain the notion
That he did live this while
But he's dead to this world
Carved out just like my heart
Soaked up and washed so lovingly
Cherished son unconditionally
In our secret world alone
Situation delicate crudely frowned upon
In our sacred love undone
Never born into this den of sin
That which erodes the most tender of things
After the eve has fallen
The lights are sinking low
Shadows would hide that life
In him could never grow
A hollow gaze peers from the cradle black
Imagining his shining eyes just sockets staring back
Witness the baptism skeletal the world would shun
Reject the purest form of love, a mother to her putrid rotting son
Lyrics submitted by aristuma21
That Which Erodes the Most Tender of Things Lyrics as written by Ryan Knight Brian Eschbach
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.”
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I think this song's about what Spite Suicide is about I think it was when Trevor's ex had an abortion and he never got over it Kinda makes sense when you read the lyrics
I love how well written their songs are Love bordering on jealousy really, I wish I could write lyrics as good as Trevor
It's true, his lyrics are unbelievable. I Will Return is probably my favorite :) although they're all excellent.
It should be stated that the song is actually called "That Which Erodes the Most Tender of Things", as opposed to "That Which Erodes the Most Tender."
@salvatorevalestra I have corrected the title now :)
The song is about a woman (the speaker) who has a stillborn child, but still feels the attachment a mother feels towards her child, so instead of letting him be dead, she pretends he's still alive. She proceeds to rock him, nurse him, and love him, despite his being dead. At the same time she can't contemplate why any God would kill a child, hence "What fiend would take these tiny eyes and show them to the dark? Gods just a lie."
I love this song, some of, if not, trevor's most impressive lyrics. People do need to realize how gay and horrid abortion is, go trevaaah