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.
No.
Quit looking for some kind of mystery to be solved like there's some sort of magic behind any of it.
This isn't anything new, people have been doing it for centuries.
Seeing what had to be done, finding friends, people to work with - to unite with,
to get things moving.
The names change, the faces change but the basics are there.
You get people together and you make promises.
It's that simple, that's how you move history.
Yeah it ain't perfect 'cause life ain't perfect.
We should just work - we got to.
You'd just get to know other people, talk to them, build with them, be out there.
'Cause in the end they're just like you. Lost and confused.
If this is living, what is death?
If this is progress, what comes next?
When life can't happen for the rest of us.
For every foothold that we lost
For every broken people's cause
We won't regret look back and learn.
We won't regret.
Quit looking for some kind of mystery to be solved like there's some sort of magic behind any of it.
This isn't anything new, people have been doing it for centuries.
Seeing what had to be done, finding friends, people to work with - to unite with,
to get things moving.
The names change, the faces change but the basics are there.
You get people together and you make promises.
It's that simple, that's how you move history.
Yeah it ain't perfect 'cause life ain't perfect.
We should just work - we got to.
You'd just get to know other people, talk to them, build with them, be out there.
'Cause in the end they're just like you. Lost and confused.
If this is living, what is death?
If this is progress, what comes next?
When life can't happen for the rest of us.
For every foothold that we lost
For every broken people's cause
We won't regret look back and learn.
We won't regret.
Lyrics submitted by gybe
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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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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
A fair bit unsure about 'Lost and confused' and 'We won't regret look back and learn'.