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.
Go to the world of guilt and sorrow for the races
Tonight where the boats go cutting
Through undulating mirror images of incandescent spires
The roads there are parabolas
With nameless water towers near the exits
You could turn it all on end still wouldn't be taller
Than the biotic arch at the crown of creation
Well there are people who put dirty hypodermic needles
Between the seat cushions in the movie theater
We all have the same dream the night that we contract it
So maybe I've been sleeping less at your place
Since a man's last panicked screams startled us awake
We're paralyzed 'til the cop cars arrive
Casting slow-spinning mobiles on your ceiling
Three colors we watch the frozen moon
In daylight I stare past your eyes'
Lenses windows framing solar wind rustling ivy
On the painted pink buildings
I've been hearing the soft step of the gray-eyed governess
But I know you know the physical form of moaning alarms
Coming from the air force base
A skinless and sinewy leviathan
All terrible contraction and release
Debasement ringed in banner plane exhaust
And scattering V's of geese
Someday my body's gonna fail me
Then prostrate maybe in my back yard
With my family's screams muted by the pounding rush
The high shrinking sun will be eclipsed
By heaving rainbows of flesh
A chrysalis of tissues from thinning air
So my eyes will be wide open 'cause there's no light
Just one definite darkness
The taste is unmistakable like a fever breaking
Tonight where the boats go cutting
Through undulating mirror images of incandescent spires
The roads there are parabolas
With nameless water towers near the exits
You could turn it all on end still wouldn't be taller
Than the biotic arch at the crown of creation
Well there are people who put dirty hypodermic needles
Between the seat cushions in the movie theater
We all have the same dream the night that we contract it
So maybe I've been sleeping less at your place
Since a man's last panicked screams startled us awake
We're paralyzed 'til the cop cars arrive
Casting slow-spinning mobiles on your ceiling
Three colors we watch the frozen moon
In daylight I stare past your eyes'
Lenses windows framing solar wind rustling ivy
On the painted pink buildings
I've been hearing the soft step of the gray-eyed governess
But I know you know the physical form of moaning alarms
Coming from the air force base
A skinless and sinewy leviathan
All terrible contraction and release
Debasement ringed in banner plane exhaust
And scattering V's of geese
Someday my body's gonna fail me
Then prostrate maybe in my back yard
With my family's screams muted by the pounding rush
The high shrinking sun will be eclipsed
By heaving rainbows of flesh
A chrysalis of tissues from thinning air
So my eyes will be wide open 'cause there's no light
Just one definite darkness
The taste is unmistakable like a fever breaking
Lyrics submitted by Gripsgone, edited by Aragorn224
Definite Darkness Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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actual lyrics:
bring me to the world of guilt and sorrow for the races tonight where the boats go cutting through undulating mirror images of incandescent spires the roads there are parabolas with nameless water towers near the exits you could turn it all on end still wouldn't be taller than the biotic arch at the crown of creation
there are people who put dirty hypodermic needles between the seat cushions in the movie theaters we all have the same dream the night that we contract it
so maybe I've been sleeping less at your place since that man's last panicked screams startled us awake
we're paralyzed as the cop cars arrived casting slow-spinning mobiles on your ceiling three colors we watched the frozen moon
in daylight I stare past your eyes' lenses windows framing solar wind rustling ivy on painted pink buildings
I've been hearing the soft step of gray-eyed governess but I know you know the physical form of the moaning alarms coming from the air force base a skinless and sinewy leviathan all terrible contraction and release debasement ringed in banner plane exhaust and scattering V's of geese
actual lyrics:
bring me to the world of guilt and sorrow for the races tonight where the boats go cutting through undulating mirror images of incandescent spires the roads there are parabolas with nameless water towers near the exits you could turn it all on end still wouldn't be taller than the biotic arch at the crown of creation
there are people who put dirty hypodermic needles between the seat cushions in the movie theaters we all have the same dream the night that we contract it
so maybe I've been sleeping less at your place since that man's last panicked screams startled us awake
we're paralyzed as the cop cars arrived casting slow-spinning mobiles on your ceiling three colors we watched the frozen moon
in daylight I stare past your eyes' lenses windows framing solar wind rustling ivy on painted pink buildings
I've been hearing the soft step of gray-eyed governess but I know you know the physical form of the moaning alarms coming from the air force base a skinless and sinewy leviathan all terrible contraction and release debasement ringed in banner plane exhaust and scattering V's of geese
Is the gray-eyed governess Jane Eyre?