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.
Now there is a light in the dark some will say
There is a grace up high
There is a beauty that some can behold
Not I. Not I.
There is a power that's felt from the shore
There is a force that won't break
But all of these things to me are no more
I've changed. I've changed.
What in the hell have you done
Cast aside all that you love
Sorrows you never out run
Zero.
Nothing for you's ever good enough
Zero
Nothing makes you whole
How many times have you felt all alone
How many tears have you cried
Called out in vain for a god to behold
Inside. Inside
How many fires you let die in your heart
How many storms must you face
Left out to fight for yourself in the cold
No faith. No faith.
So nothing to lean on this time
Nothing is left to decide
All that you've known you deny
Zero
Nothing for you's ever good enough
Zero
Nothing makes you whole
Zero
Nothing for you's ever good enough
Zero
Nothing makes you whole
Go now surrender
You can't take no more
And just cry out
Surrender your faith is no more
What in the hell have you done
Cast aside all that you love
Sorrows you never out run
Just look what you have become.
Zero
Nothing for you's ever good enough
Zero
Nothing makes you whole
Zero
Nothing for you's ever good enough
Zero
Nothing makes you whole
There is a grace up high
There is a beauty that some can behold
Not I. Not I.
There is a power that's felt from the shore
There is a force that won't break
But all of these things to me are no more
I've changed. I've changed.
What in the hell have you done
Cast aside all that you love
Sorrows you never out run
Zero.
Nothing for you's ever good enough
Zero
Nothing makes you whole
How many times have you felt all alone
How many tears have you cried
Called out in vain for a god to behold
Inside. Inside
How many fires you let die in your heart
How many storms must you face
Left out to fight for yourself in the cold
No faith. No faith.
So nothing to lean on this time
Nothing is left to decide
All that you've known you deny
Zero
Nothing for you's ever good enough
Zero
Nothing makes you whole
Zero
Nothing for you's ever good enough
Zero
Nothing makes you whole
Go now surrender
You can't take no more
And just cry out
Surrender your faith is no more
What in the hell have you done
Cast aside all that you love
Sorrows you never out run
Just look what you have become.
Zero
Nothing for you's ever good enough
Zero
Nothing makes you whole
Zero
Nothing for you's ever good enough
Zero
Nothing makes you whole
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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.
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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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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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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.
This is probably my favourite track of off ABIII and it seems to me to be to be a deepy emotional song. Two things occur to me when listening to this and i belive it is either him singing about himself while looking in from the point of view of someone close to him or him singing about a special someone he has lost or is angry at. I do not know however if he is singing as himslf, Myles, or if he is singing as a character with these emotions in the song.
Heh, this is probably way off the mark and im reading into things but this is how i interpret this song. I recommend you to listen to this song if you are an Alter Bridge fan. 10/10.