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.
Lost the meaning of our stay
Learn to live another day
Doubt the choices that we made
I know that we can't hide our shame
It's only in disguise
Drowning in our own debris
Fool our thoughts as though we're free
Close our eyes so we can see
The depth of all we mean to be
If only in my eyes
I don't mind
(Read the writing on the wall)
Mother cries
(Tortured voices as we crawl)
Find me on my better days
To lose it once again
In a way
So try and love me while you can
And take the time to understand
As long as I can touch your face
You know I'll never leave this place
If only in my mind
I don't mind
(Read the writing on the wall)
My cry
(Tortured voices as we crawl)
Find me on my better days
To lose it once again
But I seem to find out better ways
To consciously pretend
Sadness all I want to say
And it seems to run away
I'll run away
With you tonight
Launder all my sins away
And just like that mistakes are made
You know
Tonight the world dies
I don't mind
(Read the writing on the wall)
Mother cries
(Tortured voices as we crawl)
Find me on my better days
To lose it once again
But I seem to find out better ways
To consciously pretend
Learn to live another day
Doubt the choices that we made
I know that we can't hide our shame
It's only in disguise
Drowning in our own debris
Fool our thoughts as though we're free
Close our eyes so we can see
The depth of all we mean to be
If only in my eyes
I don't mind
(Read the writing on the wall)
Mother cries
(Tortured voices as we crawl)
Find me on my better days
To lose it once again
In a way
So try and love me while you can
And take the time to understand
As long as I can touch your face
You know I'll never leave this place
If only in my mind
I don't mind
(Read the writing on the wall)
My cry
(Tortured voices as we crawl)
Find me on my better days
To lose it once again
But I seem to find out better ways
To consciously pretend
Sadness all I want to say
And it seems to run away
I'll run away
With you tonight
Launder all my sins away
And just like that mistakes are made
You know
Tonight the world dies
I don't mind
(Read the writing on the wall)
Mother cries
(Tortured voices as we crawl)
Find me on my better days
To lose it once again
But I seem to find out better ways
To consciously pretend
Lyrics submitted by Synister71
Tonight the World Dies Lyrics as written by James Sullivan Brian Haner
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song is a song about dealing with and experiencing the loss of someone to death. The first two verses are about the empty meaninglessness that a person experiences. "Lost the meaning of our stay" really captures that idea. "We can't hide our shame, it's only in disguise" ... "Fool our thoughts as though we're free" These lines describe the feeling we can have after someone dies. There's this awareness that death is right there around the corner for all of us and we just pretend to not be aware of it but really it's there the whole time. It's that empty, hollow feeling that nothing we do will matter because we're all going to disappear eventually.
These thoughts continue through the chorus where the mourning cry of a mother expresses that pain as we try to crawl through life ignoring our own mortal destiny. Some days are better than others because we find better ways to pretend it's not true but that's during the day.
At night when we sleep,that's when the rest of the world dies. Meaning in our dreams we often revisit those who have passed on and it's just the two of you. The rest of the world seems not to exist anymore and in this place that's only in our mind we can feel the presence of that person who is lost to us during our waking hours. That's the place where the lost loved one seems so real you can touch their face.
At night it's not you running from death but the sadness of death runs away, you are able to run away with your loved one.
@DirtyRottenImb You are so right. I lost my son - beautiful inside and out age 34 - he touched so many lives by his infectious personality - make me laugh and sing but now I seem to only want to cry. Especially with this song! So much hidden or veiled meaning that only one whose heart has been ripped apart by this hell can truly get it. The haunting music and tortured cry in his voice - says it all. The world dies so I can find that special place my dreams can take me - if I’m lucky - to spend with him and feel alive.
To me, it seems that Shadows is saying that Jimmy's in his every thought and there's nothing else. No outside world, no life, simply nothing. "Lost the meaning of our stay, learn to live another day...Drowning in our own debris, fool our thoughts as though we're free."
I think he's also saying he'd give up his whole world to spend another day with Jimmy. "I run away with you tonight...tonight the world dies."
Rev Sullivan wrote the song so, your interpretation is a little off. I think Rev was writing about his struggles with his inner demons and, how they can make you question your life. Other then that you really can't break it down too much with out ask the man him self. (rip rev) <br />
Oh it's 'Launder my sins away'. That line reminded me of Jimmy, tis all. Amazing Song.
i agree with MistaTwewa 100 percent. this song is amazing. RIPrevx3
is it just me or does the chorus sound like this:
God of mine (Left the writing on the wall) Mother cries (Tortured voices as we crawl) Find me on my better days To lose it once again. But I seem to find out better ways, To consciously pretend.
I can see how you could hear it that way, i understand. But i still hear "i don't mind"
...it's just you.
So less comments. This is an amazing song from Nightmare! The chorus really gets me...
Really love this song. It's probably my favorite on the album.