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'm not so sure about it
Not so sure I can surmount it
Without losing my head
How about just losing my edge?
It seems easier said than done
But I think I'm done
Uncross my arms
To disarm the car bomb
It's taking too long
Something must be wrong
I had my doubts about it
When I heard your henchman shouting
"We've come looking for you"
Wished I'd hid under my bed
With my hands over my head
Uncross my arms
To disarm the car bomb
It's taking too long
Something must be wrong
I cut the wire like you said
I cut the blue one like you did
I did almost everything you said
So how come I'm dead?
Uncrossed my arms
Disarmed the car bomb
And what did I get?
A gun to my head
Uncrossed my arms
Disarmed the car bomb
And what did I get?
A gun to my head
Not so sure I can surmount it
Without losing my head
How about just losing my edge?
It seems easier said than done
But I think I'm done
Uncross my arms
To disarm the car bomb
It's taking too long
Something must be wrong
I had my doubts about it
When I heard your henchman shouting
"We've come looking for you"
Wished I'd hid under my bed
With my hands over my head
Uncross my arms
To disarm the car bomb
It's taking too long
Something must be wrong
I cut the wire like you said
I cut the blue one like you did
I did almost everything you said
So how come I'm dead?
Uncrossed my arms
Disarmed the car bomb
And what did I get?
A gun to my head
Uncrossed my arms
Disarmed the car bomb
And what did I get?
A gun to my head
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Punchline
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
I like how you call the first poster shallow and then don't offer your own explanation to what the song means.
In my opinion the song is about the band Islands from the last record. Someone has told Nick (maybe the record label) that part of the reason the last record wasn't successful was because of the band members. "Uncross my Arms" is a reference to the last record 'Arm's Way' and uncrossing 'Arm's Way' is trying something new for the next album. Cutting the wires represents cutting every band member from Arm's Way under instruction of the record label or whatever voice is guiding Nick. He references how easy it was to do this, though he now regrets it.