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.
On a cobweb afternoon
In a room full of emptiness
By a freeway I confess
I was lost in the pages
Of a book full of death
Reading how we'll die alone
And if we're good we'll lay to rest
Anywhere we want to go
In your house I long to be
Room by room patiently
I'll wait for you there
Like a stone
I'll wait for you there
Alone
And on my deathbed I will pray
To the gods and the angels
Like a pagan to anyone
Who will take me to heaven
To a place I recall
I was there so long ago
The sky was bruised
The wine was bled
And there you led me on
In your house I long to be
Room by room patiently
I'll wait for you there
Like a stone
I'll wait for you there
Alone, alone
And on I read
Until the day was gone
And I sat in regret
Of all the things I've done
For all that I've blessed
And all that I've wronged
In dreams until my death
I will wander on
In your house I long to be
Room by room patiently
I'll wait for you there
Like a stone
I'll wait for you there
Alone, alone
In a room full of emptiness
By a freeway I confess
I was lost in the pages
Of a book full of death
Reading how we'll die alone
And if we're good we'll lay to rest
Anywhere we want to go
In your house I long to be
Room by room patiently
I'll wait for you there
Like a stone
I'll wait for you there
Alone
And on my deathbed I will pray
To the gods and the angels
Like a pagan to anyone
Who will take me to heaven
To a place I recall
I was there so long ago
The sky was bruised
The wine was bled
And there you led me on
In your house I long to be
Room by room patiently
I'll wait for you there
Like a stone
I'll wait for you there
Alone, alone
And on I read
Until the day was gone
And I sat in regret
Of all the things I've done
For all that I've blessed
And all that I've wronged
In dreams until my death
I will wander on
In your house I long to be
Room by room patiently
I'll wait for you there
Like a stone
I'll wait for you there
Alone, alone
Lyrics submitted by Breakingbenjaminfan
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He reads that if you are good, you can lay to rest in the afterlife wherever you want. His resting choice is in a girl's house. His love is so strong and unwavering that he will wait there for her in the afterlife, for however long it takes - unflinching and unmoving "like a stone".
Even though he says he will pray to go to heaven, his construct of heaven is an afterlife version of the girl's house.
"To a place I recall, I was there so long ago." The sky was bruised, the wine was bled, and there you led me on."
He is remembering the last time (and perhaps only time) he was at the girl's house. Of course, currently being alone and unable to be with her, when he reflects back to that time, he feels he was led on by her.
"the sky was bruised, the wine was bled" is a clever/artistic way of saying, "the sky was blue, the wine was red".
Similarly, a "cob web" afternoon is probably a "cold, wet" afternoon. However, a "cob web" afternoon could also be a metaphor for how he feels: stuck in a web, unable to take action. In the next line, it's natural to think "full of emptiness" describes the room he his in. While it may, it also describes how he feels inside.
He later sits and regrets all the things he's done, as well as the people that he's blessed and the people that he's wronged. This is because he wishes his journey through life had taken a different path - one in which he does not end up alone, without his one true love.
"In my dreams, until my death, I will wander on." This reaffirms he has nothing left to live for, except in his dreams. There (and only there) he believes he can muster the courage to "wander on".
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The song was about Chris Cornell waiting to die, and to reunite with his friends.
@satanoscillatemymetallicsonatas right because he was cobwebbed... Bound. Tied to earth. Rip. Man i cant wait to meet him!!!