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.
The river ran among for a little bit
We were mapping out the corners of our skin
Baby in the basket came up from the coast
Looking at each other like we’d seen a ghost
And your room was like apartheid
Following the river like a trail of jewels
Bound so close we were like little molecules
Cause the water is a constant point of everything
Wedged itself between us and we just gave in
Ah ah in the night
There’s no wrong or right
Oh oh in the night
There’s no wrong or right but
I guess its true
I guess its true what they say
You learn best the hard way
We were thrown a curveball when the river forked
Tried to fight the current but it gathered force
Since we indeed are governed by gravity
All I could do is watch you float away from me
And cry all through the night
There’s no wrong or right but
But I'll cry all through the night
There’s no wrong or right but
I guess its true
I guess its true what they say
You learn best the hard way
The winter came fast and froze the river’s heart
The lakes we only heard was where the river started
The one thing that we know for sure
Everything that will be will have been before
And I’ll blame you instead
Of leaving my head cause
I didn’t know where I was
So I couldn’t stay for long
We were mapping out the corners of our skin
Baby in the basket came up from the coast
Looking at each other like we’d seen a ghost
And your room was like apartheid
Following the river like a trail of jewels
Bound so close we were like little molecules
Cause the water is a constant point of everything
Wedged itself between us and we just gave in
Ah ah in the night
There’s no wrong or right
Oh oh in the night
There’s no wrong or right but
I guess its true
I guess its true what they say
You learn best the hard way
We were thrown a curveball when the river forked
Tried to fight the current but it gathered force
Since we indeed are governed by gravity
All I could do is watch you float away from me
And cry all through the night
There’s no wrong or right but
But I'll cry all through the night
There’s no wrong or right but
I guess its true
I guess its true what they say
You learn best the hard way
The winter came fast and froze the river’s heart
The lakes we only heard was where the river started
The one thing that we know for sure
Everything that will be will have been before
And I’ll blame you instead
Of leaving my head cause
I didn’t know where I was
So I couldn’t stay for long
Lyrics submitted by nickjones724
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.