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 silly fathers
Went running in the heathers
Our silly fathers
Went running in the heathers
And the day is gonna start
And it feels so soon
Too soon
Now come on
The first light of an ancient, wrinkled voice
Is on my eyes
But I never even wait
(Hey-oh, hey-oh, hey-oh-oh-oh)
We are serious
(safe)
Never mysterious
(safe)
We're just the cold-up, loomed-up image of ourselves
We're not safe
(We're not safe)
We're not safe
(We're not safe)
We're not secure
(We're not secure)
We're not secure
(We're not secure)
Our silly fathers
Went running in the heathers
Our silly fathers
Went running in the heathers
But we're running out of time
We could be that way
Yeah we could
(Yeah we could)
And it felt so good
To let their hair down
To run around and be free
(Hey-oh, hey-oh, hey-oh-oh-oh)
We are serious
(safe)
Never mysterious
(safe)
We're just the cold-up, loomed-up image of ourselves
We're not safe
(We're not safe)
We're not safe
(We're not safe)
We're not secure
(We're not secure)
We're not secure
(We're not secure)
Uh-huh, uh-huh
Uh-huh, uh-huh
Our silly fathers
Went running in the heathers
Our silly fathers
Went running in the heathers
And they tumbled all around
Felt the beating hearts of the mice
Then yeah
They made it like a home
The twilight disappears
The sun goes down with shining
Woah-woah-woah-yeah
We are serious
(safe)
Never mysterious
(safe)
We're just the cold-up, loomed-up image of ourselves
We're not safe
(We're not safe)
We're not safe
(We're not safe)
We're not secure
(We're not secure)
We're not secure
(We're not secure)
Went running in the heathers
Our silly fathers
Went running in the heathers
And the day is gonna start
And it feels so soon
Too soon
Now come on
The first light of an ancient, wrinkled voice
Is on my eyes
But I never even wait
(Hey-oh, hey-oh, hey-oh-oh-oh)
We are serious
(safe)
Never mysterious
(safe)
We're just the cold-up, loomed-up image of ourselves
We're not safe
(We're not safe)
We're not safe
(We're not safe)
We're not secure
(We're not secure)
We're not secure
(We're not secure)
Our silly fathers
Went running in the heathers
Our silly fathers
Went running in the heathers
But we're running out of time
We could be that way
Yeah we could
(Yeah we could)
And it felt so good
To let their hair down
To run around and be free
(Hey-oh, hey-oh, hey-oh-oh-oh)
We are serious
(safe)
Never mysterious
(safe)
We're just the cold-up, loomed-up image of ourselves
We're not safe
(We're not safe)
We're not safe
(We're not safe)
We're not secure
(We're not secure)
We're not secure
(We're not secure)
Uh-huh, uh-huh
Uh-huh, uh-huh
Our silly fathers
Went running in the heathers
Our silly fathers
Went running in the heathers
And they tumbled all around
Felt the beating hearts of the mice
Then yeah
They made it like a home
The twilight disappears
The sun goes down with shining
Woah-woah-woah-yeah
We are serious
(safe)
Never mysterious
(safe)
We're just the cold-up, loomed-up image of ourselves
We're not safe
(We're not safe)
We're not safe
(We're not safe)
We're not secure
(We're not secure)
We're not secure
(We're not secure)
Lyrics submitted by sandmann930
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.