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.
What a sad, sad picture to paint
Of a dirty, dirty little soul
We are so blind here
Won't you watch us all fall apart
I find it hard to believe in it, believe in it
Believe in what you give to me
I never thought I would find you here, find you here
Find you buried in chemicals
So tie a rope the either side, either side
And let's see how your limbs hold up
Eventually we will sink or swim, sink or swim
Sink into the great abyss
Of a dirty, dirty little soul
We are so blind here
Won't you watch us all fall apart
I find it hard to believe in it, believe in it
Believe in what you give to me
I never thought I would find you here, find you here
Find you buried in chemicals
So tie a rope the either side, either side
And let's see how your limbs hold up
Eventually we will sink or swim, sink or swim
Sink into the great abyss
Lyrics submitted by pensfan870
Driftwood Lyrics as written by Daniel Travis Davison Christopher Dudley
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
So after about a year of listening and trying to figure out what this album means as a whole I think I finally get it and I thought I'd give a quick little interpretation in hope that it helps somebody. So the key is it starts with In Division and ends with In Completion. After years of struggling with his addiction he feels like there are two sides of him, the side that wants to fight and the side that wants to give in. So in Catch Myself Catching Myself he talks about fighting the side of him that wants to give in, burn the parasites alive. In Paper Lung he lets that side of him drown and now its just the side of him that wants to fight, which is really represented greatly by the intensity of Illuminator. Driftwood is really interesting, i think that "what a sad picture to paint" is a reference to casting such a thin shadow, specifically the line "in a picture perfect illustration ive become a stick figure illustration." In a painting of beatiful people hes this stick figure that sticks out and doesnt belong, he feels like an outsider and driftwood i think is saying that he still feels that way even though he killed off the side of himself that wants to give in. Also driftwood is wood that changes when it drifts out to sea, so i believe this is the change in mindset song of the album. A Divine Eradication is him giving in to drugs, even though he killed off that side of himself he still gives in. Who Will Guard the Guardians sounds like to me a song of hope and redemption. And heres where it gets tricky, the last four i think have this basic message, he cant kill off that side of him because with that side comes all of the strength hes gained by overcoming and fighting his addiction for years. His addiction is a trial designed to make him a stronger person in life, when he tries to divide himself he loses the strength and finds himself giving in to drugs regardless. Therefore, he must live with that side of himself but he must not let it influence him (keep that side of him with a Vacant Mouth). Addictions are a daily struggle, he must live in completion, not in division, because our tribulations shape the person who we will become and make us stronger. Disambiguation means clarification that removes obstacles in order to understand which is represented by the album cover with the symbol covered in water so well. I hope that makes sense, id love to hear opinions and input. oh and I cant wait for some new material :D
What a sad, sad picture to paint, Of a dirty, dirty little soul. We are so blind here, Let's watch us all fall apart.
I find it hard to believe in it, believe in it, Believe in what you give to me. I never thought I would find you here, Find you here, find you buried in chemicals. Tie a rope to either side, either side, And let's see how our limbs hold up. Eventually we will sink or swim, sink or swim, Sink into the great abyss.
That's exactly what it says, plus the word "I" thrown in there
Stellar song, really makes me think every time I listen to it... Very spacey
I would like to know what people think it's about, I can't point out anything in particular
"What a sad, sad picture to paint Of a dirty, dirty little soul We are so blind here Let's watch us all fall apart"
I think this is recognition of just how messed up humanity can be
"Find it hard to believe in it believe in it, believe in what you give to me"
Considering what was being recognized in the first part, I think this part is Spencer saying how he can't believe that God would offer forgiveness to him
The other parts are sorta ambiguous in my opinion
what a sad picture to paint ----of a dirty little soul
i think this implies to how pathetic and dirty we are,how blind we are that we let each other fall apart even though we know the truth and still break under pressures
i never thought i..buried in chemicals
a person who ignored the signs and is surprised to find gods love even in the darkest pits (drugs) like he knew he was sinning and thinks god left only to see that he was with him the entire time
tie a rope to either side ......abyss
so like lets see how many of you stand by him,tie a rope from either side obviously we break under pressures or let god help us ....we either swim(survive)or sink(fall)
fall for the most part