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.
Our history runs down our rivers
Down our rivers to the sea
Reminds us of the things that matter
Home and heart and history
And all our sins will be forgiven
Washed away to set us free
By the rivers that run through our homesteads
By myth and modal melody
I traced these rivers from the cities to the seas
To remind me of what I already know
I traced the shorelines through a thousand histories
To remind me an island is my home
An island is my home
I traveled far across this country
Northumberland to Southern Downs
I wandered up the rolling Humber
And down the Thames to London town
And countless lives were lived and lingered
In the cotswells and the fells
I left a tapestry called England
And life and those who lived it well
I traced these rivers from the cities to the seas
To remind me of what I already know
I traced the shorelines through a thousand histories
To remind me an island is my home
An island is my home
Round here the sky is a little closer
A little closer to the ground
It's hard for someone to get lost here
Harder still to get found
And though I've seen a thousand rivers
From the Mississippi to the Rhine
The only place that I'll lay my hat down
Is by an English riverside
I traced these rivers from the cities to the seas
To remind me of what I already know
I traced the shorelines through a thousand histories
To remind me an island is my home
An island is my home
So place your trust into the sea
It's kept us safe for centuries
It shaped our shores and steadily
Its care has brought us, come
And when I die, I hope to be buried out in English seas
So all that then remains of me
Will lap against these shores
Until England is no more
Down our rivers to the sea
Reminds us of the things that matter
Home and heart and history
And all our sins will be forgiven
Washed away to set us free
By the rivers that run through our homesteads
By myth and modal melody
I traced these rivers from the cities to the seas
To remind me of what I already know
I traced the shorelines through a thousand histories
To remind me an island is my home
An island is my home
I traveled far across this country
Northumberland to Southern Downs
I wandered up the rolling Humber
And down the Thames to London town
And countless lives were lived and lingered
In the cotswells and the fells
I left a tapestry called England
And life and those who lived it well
I traced these rivers from the cities to the seas
To remind me of what I already know
I traced the shorelines through a thousand histories
To remind me an island is my home
An island is my home
Round here the sky is a little closer
A little closer to the ground
It's hard for someone to get lost here
Harder still to get found
And though I've seen a thousand rivers
From the Mississippi to the Rhine
The only place that I'll lay my hat down
Is by an English riverside
I traced these rivers from the cities to the seas
To remind me of what I already know
I traced the shorelines through a thousand histories
To remind me an island is my home
An island is my home
So place your trust into the sea
It's kept us safe for centuries
It shaped our shores and steadily
Its care has brought us, come
And when I die, I hope to be buried out in English seas
So all that then remains of me
Will lap against these shores
Until England is no more
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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.”
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I also think that its supposed to be 'traipsed' rather than traced, this would make a little more sense in regards to definintion, but I supposed either word works.
And the bit where is says 'Its care has brought us, come' I believe 'come' is supposed to be 'calm'
Eitherway, its a good song, made only better by the fact it mentions my native homeland of Northumberland xD