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.
By the time I was your age, I'd give anything
To fall in love truly, was all I could think
That's when I met your mother, the girl of my dreams
The most beautiful woman, that I'd ever seen
She said, Boy can I tell you a wonderful thing?
I can't help but notice, you're staring at me
I know I shouldn't say this, but I really believe
I can tell by your eyes that you're in love with me
Now son, I'm only telling you this
Because life, can do terrible things
Now most of the time, we'd had too much to drink
And we'd laugh at the stars and we'd share everything
Too young to notice, and too dumb to care
Love was a story, that couldn't compare
I said, Girl, can I tell you a wonderful thing?
I made you a present with paper and string
Open with care now, I'm asking you, please
You know that I love you, will you marry me?
Now son, I'm only telling you this
Because life, can do terrible things
You'll learn, one day, I'll hope and I'll pray
That God, shows you differently
She said, Boy can I tell you, a terrible thing?
It seems that I'm sick and I've only got weeks
Please, don't be sad now, I really believe
You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me
Slow, so slow
I fell to the ground, on my knees
So don't fall in love, there's just too much to lose
If given the choice, then, I'm begging you, choose
To walk away, walk away, don't let her get you
I can't bear to see the same happen to you
Now son, I'm only telling you this
Because life, can do terrible things
To fall in love truly, was all I could think
That's when I met your mother, the girl of my dreams
The most beautiful woman, that I'd ever seen
She said, Boy can I tell you a wonderful thing?
I can't help but notice, you're staring at me
I know I shouldn't say this, but I really believe
I can tell by your eyes that you're in love with me
Now son, I'm only telling you this
Because life, can do terrible things
Now most of the time, we'd had too much to drink
And we'd laugh at the stars and we'd share everything
Too young to notice, and too dumb to care
Love was a story, that couldn't compare
I said, Girl, can I tell you a wonderful thing?
I made you a present with paper and string
Open with care now, I'm asking you, please
You know that I love you, will you marry me?
Now son, I'm only telling you this
Because life, can do terrible things
You'll learn, one day, I'll hope and I'll pray
That God, shows you differently
She said, Boy can I tell you, a terrible thing?
It seems that I'm sick and I've only got weeks
Please, don't be sad now, I really believe
You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me
Slow, so slow
I fell to the ground, on my knees
So don't fall in love, there's just too much to lose
If given the choice, then, I'm begging you, choose
To walk away, walk away, don't let her get you
I can't bear to see the same happen to you
Now son, I'm only telling you this
Because life, can do terrible things
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So I've come up with two different possible interpretations of the song... just ideas that popped into my mind while listening to it. I really love this song by the way, and it just goes to show that Mayday Parade is amazing and has the lyrical and emotional depth in their songs to communicate with fans and their lives/minds. So for the possible interpretations...
1) This could be a "hypothetical song", so to speak, where they communicate the message through a narrative from a father to his son.
OR
2) This could be based on what happened to one of the band members, one of their friends, or a mixture of the two in their lives.
Either way, the general message remains the same. It basically tells how something can seem so perfect and indestructible can change at a moment's notice, and not necessarily for the better. It also communicates the idea that you should never take anything for granted, as it can slip away at any time, or change in a way that can leave you wishing you had been more appreciative.
Just my thoughts.
The song is about a father telling his son about how he fell in love with his mother when they were younger. When he proposed to her, she said that she was dying. When she passed, he was so hurt that he didn't want his son to feel the same pain of losing someone.
In a way, he wants to protect his son, but in a way he's being selfish as well. By telling his son to not fall in love because it'll hurt him, he's keeping him from learning to love. He's going to feel pain, but it's a part of life.
This is the first song that Mayday Parade has released since Jason left that is comparable to the emotional feeling I get when I listen to it since A Lesson In Romantics. Absolutely amazing. Mayday is now officially back in my books.
I completely agree. (:<br /> <3
I think he's telling this story to his hypothetical son, The one he would have had if she wasn't dying
'When i met your mother' Couldnt have had the son he's talking to as she died
So he's just left with the memories of her and the regret of what could have been (Even though the regret isn't his fault)
Life can do terrible things.
well, it could also be a first hand experience that HE is the kid that's being told the story by his father who lost his mother to a disease way back when...?<br /> Or it could be a friend or a band member's story... You know?
Indeedio, Just my interpretation though =P<br /> <br /> Could easily be either, though i think i may be reading too much into it
i can attest to that.
i think the song is a summery of a really long time. <br /> the first verse is talking about when they first met and fell in love<br /> and the second verse is after they had been together a while and he wants to marry her.<br /> and i think the third verse is after they had been married and already had the baby but he was really young. and then when she goes to the doctor she has to come home and tell her husband that she is really sick.... i could be wrong, probably am lol. but either way ITS A GREAT SONG!!!
This song is so amazing. I actually get tears in my eyes when i listen to it. Simply incredible! I cant wait for the new album, going to see them in may :D <3 <3
I think the saddest part of this song, isn't the actual story, but the fact that this father is telling his son to never fall in love.
Unlike what most people think here, that the the girl told him she was dying literally right after he proposed, I think hes telling about their lives. They met young. Maybe highschool sweethearts. He proposed, she excepted and they got.married, had a baby boy but when their son was still a baby, she found out she was sick and that she wasn't going to live much longer. And after losing the woman he loved more than anything, and knowing the feeling, hes telling his son to never fall in love because he doesn't want to see him hurt.
I have listened to this song a million times, and it still shocks me how beautifully the story comes across. The song is a father talking to his son about how he met his mother. That's why there is a repetition of "Son i'm only tell you this.." In the song the father talks about how he was searching for love and or wanting it when he found his mom. And he talks about their story of how they grew to love one another.Then maybe years later, after they've had him and everything, he proposes to the mom only to realize she is sick and doesn't have long to live. The song concludes with father saying that is was super depressing and he is still hurt by it, and that love is something that can be great but also very terrible. Because when you lose it, terrible things will happen.
absolutely amazing..enough to make me cry. this is why i love mayday. i can't wait for their new album <33.
me too(: <3
Totally beautiful <3. No words great enough to sum up how spectacular this is. Made me cry :]