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.
Today's the anniversary of the day
That you should have been born
Nobody ever taught me healthy habits
Or how to mourn, standing by the ocean
I have waded with your ashes scattering
I'm throwing salt into the sea
The burden of your death like a boulder on my chest
A blanket keeping me
Just warm enough to stay alive, but still suffering
Emptiness is all I can feel (emptiness is all I can feel)
There's nothing in this world that feels real
I cannot stop obsessive thoughts
Fixated on what I have lost
How will I ever learn to heal?
The birds still sing in the cemetery
The flowers still bloom
How do I bury someone that I never even got to know?
And I will circle myself in the salt then burn incense
To preserve this sense of fleeting innocence (whoa oh oh)
'Cause I just want my mental health to be my greatest wealth
I don't ever want to be this low again
Emptiness is all I can feel (emptiness is all I can feel)
There's nothing in this world that feels real
I cannot stop obsessive thoughts
Fixated on what I have lost
How will I ever learn to heal?
I try so hard to not be aware
That everyone I love can disappear
I hear footsteps in the night
I swear, I see your face (I see your face)
I clutch the clothes that we bought for you
That you'll never wear
Emptiness is all I can feel
There's nothing in this world that feels real
I cannot stop obsessive thoughts
Fixated on what I have lost
How will I ever learn to heal?
Emptiness is all I can feel (emptiness is all I can feel)
There's nothing in this world that feels real
I cannot stop obsessive thoughts
Fixated on what I have lost
How will I ever learn to heal?
That you should have been born
Nobody ever taught me healthy habits
Or how to mourn, standing by the ocean
I have waded with your ashes scattering
I'm throwing salt into the sea
The burden of your death like a boulder on my chest
A blanket keeping me
Just warm enough to stay alive, but still suffering
Emptiness is all I can feel (emptiness is all I can feel)
There's nothing in this world that feels real
I cannot stop obsessive thoughts
Fixated on what I have lost
How will I ever learn to heal?
The birds still sing in the cemetery
The flowers still bloom
How do I bury someone that I never even got to know?
And I will circle myself in the salt then burn incense
To preserve this sense of fleeting innocence (whoa oh oh)
'Cause I just want my mental health to be my greatest wealth
I don't ever want to be this low again
Emptiness is all I can feel (emptiness is all I can feel)
There's nothing in this world that feels real
I cannot stop obsessive thoughts
Fixated on what I have lost
How will I ever learn to heal?
I try so hard to not be aware
That everyone I love can disappear
I hear footsteps in the night
I swear, I see your face (I see your face)
I clutch the clothes that we bought for you
That you'll never wear
Emptiness is all I can feel
There's nothing in this world that feels real
I cannot stop obsessive thoughts
Fixated on what I have lost
How will I ever learn to heal?
Emptiness is all I can feel (emptiness is all I can feel)
There's nothing in this world that feels real
I cannot stop obsessive thoughts
Fixated on what I have lost
How will I ever learn to heal?
Lyrics submitted by sunnyD0101
The Fire Sermon Lyrics as written by James Anthony Nielsen Beau Burchell
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Mountain Song
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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I think this entire album is about letting go of his family, specifically his dad. He hates his dad because he abandoned him, and gave him his alcohol addiction. Senses Fail. <33 Saved my life.
This is one of the more powerful songs I like the hear when I'm depressed or angry. The tune to the song just allows me to let out my emotions. The screaming just makes me want to scream which I have done several times when no one was around. I listen to this song most days before I go to school so I can brace myself for what I know is coming.
damn bro, out of curiosity, has life gotten better?
I know what you mean.I feel like crying everyday,but this gets me through it.<br /> Seriously,I hope it gets better,you don't have to say what it is that's coming unless you want to.<br /> I feel for you dude:')
A great song from the new album. Just picked it up after seeing them play at the Webster Theatre in Connecticut.
I feel this song is about letting go of something from the past that has been stuck with you for so long, affecting you day in and day out until the point of self destruction. Buddy feels great pain and is done with it.
"I'll light the fuse and I'll set the dam to blow, flooding the entire town below and all that I've known" Basically clearing the slate/mind of his depressing past. The chorus also expreses this.
This song basicly means we all live life having to choose paths and believing in what we need to so we can get through it all.For Buddy,he's telling how he wants to believe in God,but it's hard since logic rules out everything Christians believe in.He doesn't know how to have faith,so he's forgeting religon and leaving all his faith behind.Just like me,he feels worried when he realizes that if God is real,he's going to hell,but to go to heaven,he needs to believe in God,so he can't do anything.He won't get help,so he still feels lost.So he's just waiting for death to come,showing him if his choice was right or wrong.He's not encouraging us to not believe in God,he's telling us we're able to choose what we want to believe in,we're not being forced since in our hearts,we know what choice we're making.We try to forget God,but we really can't;It's impossible to us.We believe that God is real,we just need proof.We want to believe in God,but it's really hard,so in our hearts,we are Christians,We're just waiting for faith.