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.
There's a path, lined with pines, and some spray-painted steel
and some brains, like bikewheels, humming hornets
There are piles of notebooks and textbooks and things
ripped by teachers from lockers with no lock upon them
I see beads on our rosaries feed on our memories
each prayer correlates to my conscience
Teach me each nuance of God
teach me how to sin right
Show me the face of the Virgin Mary
wash with the water of her mercy
while I lie in the parking lot bleeding
the brutal youth Costello's preaching
Show me the face of my old math teacher
took us to church and taught us proverbs
then he cheated on his wife with a colleague
while we watched some Spanish movie
I see John hugging her on the steps of the church
we learned much about love, but not the right kind
I see me, between the trees, with a menacing look
lost in thoughts way too grim for the 8th grade
Like, "How many miles in the sky must I be
to be happy, while air-loss kills thinking?
And at that high altitude, could that new bloodless brain
hold no guilt?"
Show me the face of Jesus smiling
not the ones where he's nearly dying
Christ, I love all you've done and stated
but your double-edged sword's too serrated
Show each phase of my social slumber
when I loved antique counter-culture
please don't stop this song in its tracks
I know it's rambling; let me point the point back
Let me point the point back
So I'll look him in the feet
and I'll tell him that I can calm down
But I'm stapled to defacement of desks
and I can't stop now
and the best little thoughts will arrive when I circle the school
so to make sure the messages project,
I need bigger tools
When I write,
"Fuck it, you'll fly just like I am when without,
and believe me, I'm going and gone
with no ripcord allowed!"
So I hope that these markers
dried so tight to the bricks
so that when this building's torn down,
the sentiment sticks
The sentiment sticks
it'll always exist
the sentiment sticks
it'll always exist
and with every second
replaying every day,
it's hard to live like this
and some brains, like bikewheels, humming hornets
There are piles of notebooks and textbooks and things
ripped by teachers from lockers with no lock upon them
I see beads on our rosaries feed on our memories
each prayer correlates to my conscience
Teach me each nuance of God
teach me how to sin right
Show me the face of the Virgin Mary
wash with the water of her mercy
while I lie in the parking lot bleeding
the brutal youth Costello's preaching
Show me the face of my old math teacher
took us to church and taught us proverbs
then he cheated on his wife with a colleague
while we watched some Spanish movie
I see John hugging her on the steps of the church
we learned much about love, but not the right kind
I see me, between the trees, with a menacing look
lost in thoughts way too grim for the 8th grade
Like, "How many miles in the sky must I be
to be happy, while air-loss kills thinking?
And at that high altitude, could that new bloodless brain
hold no guilt?"
Show me the face of Jesus smiling
not the ones where he's nearly dying
Christ, I love all you've done and stated
but your double-edged sword's too serrated
Show each phase of my social slumber
when I loved antique counter-culture
please don't stop this song in its tracks
I know it's rambling; let me point the point back
Let me point the point back
So I'll look him in the feet
and I'll tell him that I can calm down
But I'm stapled to defacement of desks
and I can't stop now
and the best little thoughts will arrive when I circle the school
so to make sure the messages project,
I need bigger tools
When I write,
"Fuck it, you'll fly just like I am when without,
and believe me, I'm going and gone
with no ripcord allowed!"
So I hope that these markers
dried so tight to the bricks
so that when this building's torn down,
the sentiment sticks
The sentiment sticks
it'll always exist
the sentiment sticks
it'll always exist
and with every second
replaying every day,
it's hard to live like this
Lyrics submitted by DarkerShadeofWinter
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.