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.
Eternity will smile
Eternity will smile
Eternity will smile
On me
I never said I was honest
I never said I was honest
But I am true
And I am true
We all see something different
We all recall something different
When we watch the parade
Go marching through
So be kind to all of your neighbors
Be kind to all of your neighbors
‘Cuz they’re just like you
They’re just like you
And you’re nothing special
Unless they are too
All my time I’ve walked a filed line
I've held a vacant sign upon my eyelids
All my time, oh Lord, I’ve been so blind
But now I see the light peek through my doorjamb
But there's no
Hallelujah, it will be gone soon, yeah
It will be gone soon
It’s just an empty room
This is our darkest cave
We’ll never see the day
But slowly make our way up to the mouth
And you’re gonna piss and moan
You let the devil in your home
You let the devil in your home
You let the devil in your home
Piss and moan
You let the devil in your home
You let the devil in your home
You let the devil in your home
In your home
Eternity will smile
Eternity will smile
On me
I never said I was honest
I never said I was honest
But I am true
And I am true
We all see something different
We all recall something different
When we watch the parade
Go marching through
So be kind to all of your neighbors
Be kind to all of your neighbors
‘Cuz they’re just like you
They’re just like you
And you’re nothing special
Unless they are too
All my time I’ve walked a filed line
I've held a vacant sign upon my eyelids
All my time, oh Lord, I’ve been so blind
But now I see the light peek through my doorjamb
But there's no
Hallelujah, it will be gone soon, yeah
It will be gone soon
It’s just an empty room
This is our darkest cave
We’ll never see the day
But slowly make our way up to the mouth
And you’re gonna piss and moan
You let the devil in your home
You let the devil in your home
You let the devil in your home
Piss and moan
You let the devil in your home
You let the devil in your home
You let the devil in your home
In your home
Lyrics submitted by roartheskies, edited by stephmh
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It's definitely 'filed line'.
I don't mean to nit pick but I thought he says "I've walked a file line" like when you were told in school to stand in "single file" line. I took it to mean he followed a path blindly w/o questioning it. That line I'm not 100% on, though. Maybe he does say "fine, old" line.
But I do know that he says "[But there's no] Hallelujah." As in there is no rejoicing b/c "it will be gone soon."
Just my thoughts and version. Love this song.
Official lyrics from band's website:
i never said i was honest but i am true
we all see something different we all recall something different when we watch the parade go marching through
so be kind to all of your neighbors because they’re just like you and you’re nothing special unless they are too
all my time i’ve walked a filed line i’ve held a vacant sign upon my eyelids all my time o lord i’ve been so blind but now i see the light peek through my door-jamb but there’s no hallelujah it will be gone soon yeah it will be gone soon it’s just an empty room this is the darkest cave we never see the day but slowly make our way up to the mouth
you gonna piss and moan you let the devil your home
I never said I was honest but I am true could mean several things but one obvious interpretation would be that the singer is trying to say he's just a man, not someone particularly special.
We all see something different... The singer inserts the recognition of subjectiveness and the idea that he's not like you into the piece.
Be kind to your neighbors... You're not special, you're just a man too.
All my time... This is a new revelation.
But there's no hallelujah, it will be gone soon... You can't wish problems away.
This is the darkest cave... You not dealing with problems, complaining about them.
You let the Devil in your home... Your problems are your fault.
Just one interpretation. Hope this is helpful.
@colcifer 7 years later....this songs rings true. Folks are still yelling into the mouth of a cave...wanting to hear something different Instead of turning around, moving forward....toward some sunlight. Just a thought. I dig your interpretation. The song is a bit deeper than most suspect.<br />
This is a great song!
It seems to me that the song is about an awakening of a person seeing life beyond himself. The part about the cave sounds like he was playing off of the allegory of Plato's cave. Coming into the light, the real world, opening your eyes to see beyond yourself and your own desires.
He realizes that everyone out there in the world has a unique perspective and that in order to be respected, you must give respect to others and their opinions, because they are only as as special as yours. You can whine and complain, but your problems are what you make of them.
Nice concept, great instruments in the song.
@Steph01924 5 years later....this song makes more and more sense. The music has a primitive tone from the rhythm to the actual sound of being in room jamming into a tapedeck recorder. It starts at the end, which is interesting....Eternity smiles is the entire point...only if you reckon with you're own demons, with your own mistakes....basically reckon with yourself to better understand the world around and then...move on. The instrumental is pretty cool and accents the tone of the message...there is a march for the rules and laws of the song...then he drops on the Universe the we are nothing special and the song breaks...then the song uses the same march to deliver another message of greater meaning...and then there's that Trumpet...solo, unrefined, in a room all by itself...but owning it...I'm probably off...but what the hell...it's a great song, and fitting for the time.
This song is an anthem for humanity. It's rough and raw- far from perfect; but PERFECTLY far from perfect. Askew enough to help folks of all walks relate on a very simple level....It's about owing your choices and owning who you are....and embracing imperfections- you're nothing special :)
There is a slight tempo change....and a break. The song changes from a march to a slight riff....just for him to say that we aren't "something Special" and that he can finally see the "light" through the "doorjamb". Nevermind the reference to walking a "filed line"...we ALL know that feeling. The Honest Truth is just that....a truth
Will people please start posting what they think the song means! I always come here to read peoples opinions.