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.
My hope is on fire
My dreams are for sale
I dance on a wire
I don't want to fail her
I walk against the stream
Far from what I believe in
I run towards towards the end
Trying not to give in
She's lost in the darkness
Fading away
I'm still around here
Screaming her name
She's haunting my dreamworld
Trying to survive
My heart is frozen
I'm losing my mind
Help me, I'm buried alive
Buried alive
I'm burning the bridges
And there's no return
I'm trying to reach her
I feel that she yearns
I walk against the stream
Far from what I believe in
I run towards towards the end
Trying not to give in
She's lost in the darkness
Fading away
I'm still around here
Screaming her name
She's haunting my dreamworld
Trying to survive
My heart is frozen
I'm losing my mind
Help me, I'm buried alive
Buried alive
I tried to revive what's already drowned
They think I'm a fool
Can't realise,
Hope plays a wicked game with the mind
'Cause I thought that love would bind
I cannot revive what's already drowned
She won't come around
She's lost in the darkness
Fading away
I'm still around here
Screaming her name
She's haunting my dreamworld
Trying to survive
My heart is frozen
I'm losing my mind
Help me, I'm buried alive
Buried alive
My dreams are for sale
I dance on a wire
I don't want to fail her
I walk against the stream
Far from what I believe in
I run towards towards the end
Trying not to give in
She's lost in the darkness
Fading away
I'm still around here
Screaming her name
She's haunting my dreamworld
Trying to survive
My heart is frozen
I'm losing my mind
Help me, I'm buried alive
Buried alive
I'm burning the bridges
And there's no return
I'm trying to reach her
I feel that she yearns
I walk against the stream
Far from what I believe in
I run towards towards the end
Trying not to give in
She's lost in the darkness
Fading away
I'm still around here
Screaming her name
She's haunting my dreamworld
Trying to survive
My heart is frozen
I'm losing my mind
Help me, I'm buried alive
Buried alive
I tried to revive what's already drowned
They think I'm a fool
Can't realise,
Hope plays a wicked game with the mind
'Cause I thought that love would bind
I cannot revive what's already drowned
She won't come around
She's lost in the darkness
Fading away
I'm still around here
Screaming her name
She's haunting my dreamworld
Trying to survive
My heart is frozen
I'm losing my mind
Help me, I'm buried alive
Buried alive
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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,
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I think this song is "Somewhere" part II