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.
In the night I sit alone
Lifeless to a world I know
Faith lost long ago
In this graveyard, I'm calling home
Carved into the stone
A diary of broken bones
And words I should ignore
But this graves too deep to ever make it out
I'd do anything, anything
Just to feel like I could reach the ground
I'd do anything, anything now
To spread these wings somehow
I'd scream these words so loud
But they never make a sound
I'm alive
But I'm barely breathing now
So place my heart under the ground
Lay me down
I'm alive
But I'm barely breathing now
So drag my lungs into the ground
Lay me down
In the night I sit alone
The stars rain on the world below
Beg me to explore
Cause these dreams I keep are no where to be found
I'd do anything, anything
Just to stop this weight from pressing down
I'd do anything, anything now
To spread these wings somehow
I'd scream these words so loud
But they never make a sound
I'm alive
But I'm barely breathing now
So place my heart under the ground
Lay me down
I'm alive
But I'm barely breathing now
So drag my lungs into the ground
Lay me down
Deep enough so that
I'll never feel again
Far beneath any chance of breaking skin
I'm giving in
Under promise of smiles and happiness
It's a dream I'm not willing to admit
I'm not ready yet
To face regret
No I'm not ready yet
I'm not ready yet
No, no, no
I'd do anything now
To spread these wings somehow
I'd scream these words so loud
But they never make a sound
I'm alive
But I'm barely breathing now
So place my heart under the ground
Lay me down
I'm alive
But I'm barely breathing now
Drag my lungs into the ground
Lay me down
Lifeless to a world I know
Faith lost long ago
In this graveyard, I'm calling home
Carved into the stone
A diary of broken bones
And words I should ignore
But this graves too deep to ever make it out
I'd do anything, anything
Just to feel like I could reach the ground
I'd do anything, anything now
To spread these wings somehow
I'd scream these words so loud
But they never make a sound
I'm alive
But I'm barely breathing now
So place my heart under the ground
Lay me down
I'm alive
But I'm barely breathing now
So drag my lungs into the ground
Lay me down
In the night I sit alone
The stars rain on the world below
Beg me to explore
Cause these dreams I keep are no where to be found
I'd do anything, anything
Just to stop this weight from pressing down
I'd do anything, anything now
To spread these wings somehow
I'd scream these words so loud
But they never make a sound
I'm alive
But I'm barely breathing now
So place my heart under the ground
Lay me down
I'm alive
But I'm barely breathing now
So drag my lungs into the ground
Lay me down
Deep enough so that
I'll never feel again
Far beneath any chance of breaking skin
I'm giving in
Under promise of smiles and happiness
It's a dream I'm not willing to admit
I'm not ready yet
To face regret
No I'm not ready yet
I'm not ready yet
No, no, no
I'd do anything now
To spread these wings somehow
I'd scream these words so loud
But they never make a sound
I'm alive
But I'm barely breathing now
So place my heart under the ground
Lay me down
I'm alive
But I'm barely breathing now
Drag my lungs into the ground
Lay me down
Lyrics submitted by simply__me
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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.
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
This is a great song! This song reminds me of something that would be on "Page Avenue." Anyways, I have listened and listened to this song. And one can interpret this song in so many different ways... I interpret this song as someone feeling like they are "dead"- "But this graves too deep to ever make it out, I'd do anything, anything just to feel like I could reach the ground." But he or she does not accept it. They want so bad to be "alive" by chasing their dreams and not let anything get in their way (regrets). And, I believe they are comparing the feeling of being alive to an angel-"I'd do anything now. To spread these wings somehow. I'd scream these words so loud but they never make a sound." So, in the end this person finally reached what is to be "alive" and it took so much from them- "I'm alive, but I'm barely breathing now." That's just my interpretation. I would really like to know the real meaning. And hear other people's interpretations on this amazing song.