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.
How can someone who wants to be loved
Hate it when they're loved at all?
Does guilt really feel that bad?
Every time I take a breath, honey
I feel the weight fall back on me
Somebody tell me it's not so bad
Collected thoughts drown in sleep
I had forgotten what you mean to me
I forgot a lot of things
What happens to the old girl, what happens to the boy?
I see their eyelids moving
What happens to the old boy, will he be destroyed?
Is this what I'm losing?
But I feel, feel
But I feel something, oh it's better than nothing
I've been sleeping in his bed
I'm digging in my head
He pulls the cash from under the table
Take that breath and hold it in
Oh it's sidling in, he says
It's not so bad
Collected thoughts drown in sleep
I had forgotten what you mean to me
I forgot a lot of things
What happens to the old girl, what happens to the boy?
I see their eyelids moving
What happens to the old boy, will he be destroyed?
Is this what I'm losing?
But I feel, feel
But I feel something, oh it's better than nothing
How can someone who wants to be loved
Hate it when they're loved at all?
Does guilt really feel that bad?
Every time I take a breath, honey
I feel the weight fall back on me
Somebody tell me it's not so bad
Collected thoughts drown in sleep
I had forgotten what you mean to me
I forgot a lot of things
What happens to the old girl, what happens to the boy?
I see their eyelids moving
What happens to the old boy, will he be destroyed?
Is this what I'm losing?
But I feel, feel
But I feel something, oh it's better than nothing
I've been sleeping in his bed
I'm digging in my head
He pulls the cash from under the table
Take that breath and hold it in
Oh it's sidling in, he says
It's not so bad
Collected thoughts drown in sleep
I had forgotten what you mean to me
I forgot a lot of things
What happens to the old girl, what happens to the boy?
I see their eyelids moving
What happens to the old boy, will he be destroyed?
Is this what I'm losing?
But I feel, feel
But I feel something, oh it's better than nothing
Hate it when they're loved at all?
Does guilt really feel that bad?
Every time I take a breath, honey
I feel the weight fall back on me
Somebody tell me it's not so bad
Collected thoughts drown in sleep
I had forgotten what you mean to me
I forgot a lot of things
What happens to the old girl, what happens to the boy?
I see their eyelids moving
What happens to the old boy, will he be destroyed?
Is this what I'm losing?
But I feel, feel
But I feel something, oh it's better than nothing
I've been sleeping in his bed
I'm digging in my head
He pulls the cash from under the table
Take that breath and hold it in
Oh it's sidling in, he says
It's not so bad
Collected thoughts drown in sleep
I had forgotten what you mean to me
I forgot a lot of things
What happens to the old girl, what happens to the boy?
I see their eyelids moving
What happens to the old boy, will he be destroyed?
Is this what I'm losing?
But I feel, feel
But I feel something, oh it's better than nothing
How can someone who wants to be loved
Hate it when they're loved at all?
Does guilt really feel that bad?
Every time I take a breath, honey
I feel the weight fall back on me
Somebody tell me it's not so bad
Collected thoughts drown in sleep
I had forgotten what you mean to me
I forgot a lot of things
What happens to the old girl, what happens to the boy?
I see their eyelids moving
What happens to the old boy, will he be destroyed?
Is this what I'm losing?
But I feel, feel
But I feel something, oh it's better than nothing
I've been sleeping in his bed
I'm digging in my head
He pulls the cash from under the table
Take that breath and hold it in
Oh it's sidling in, he says
It's not so bad
Collected thoughts drown in sleep
I had forgotten what you mean to me
I forgot a lot of things
What happens to the old girl, what happens to the boy?
I see their eyelids moving
What happens to the old boy, will he be destroyed?
Is this what I'm losing?
But I feel, feel
But I feel something, oh it's better than nothing
Lyrics submitted by onetwofold, edited by calisunshinelove
Better Than Nothing Lyrics as written by Sarah A. Jaffe
Lyrics © Bluewater Music Corp.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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The chorus gets me every time. Her worry for his feelings, while at the same time, rejecting him and causing the pain she feels bad that he is feeling. A vicious cycle in a beautiful song
I think it means "i see their eyelids moving" instead of "I see the red lights moving".
My interpretation is that this song tells about two former lover who suffer under the end of their relationship. It wasn't his fault or her fault, both made mistakes. I think he couldn't really show his love because he had been a "bad boy" before and don't want to let go that way of life and she were too selfish to understand that, even if she knows that in truth he loves and needs her.
This can bring tears to the eyes of a man with no tear ducts.
Um, tear ducts don't produce tears, they drain tears from your eyes. But this is yet another beautiful song. <3 Sarah Jaffe melts my heart. :3
I don't think this is what she meant, but when I listen to this I connect it to a friend of mine who committed suicide recently. I found out in the middle of the night - my "collected thoughts" were all released as I realized that my worst fears were true, just before I fell asleep. I actually broke up with my boyfriend the very next day because I felt so guilty. And everyone tells me that I will be ok, that "it's not so bad" but I still feel a weight on my chest, and I'm uncertain how he died and what will happen to me - for me I am the "old girl." It's a touching song and makes me feel complete because it expresses my emotions very well.
@finnigen I am sorry about your friend. My brother died by suicide and I have a couple of songs from the winter that happened which are automatically assigned to the night that happened and the way that the world changed after. I had broken up with someone a month before and refused to get back together after that, it's a game changer.