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.
Shadows settle on the place that you left
Our minds are troubled by the emptiness
Destroy the middle, it's a waste of time
From the perfect start to the finish line
And if you're still breathing, you're the lucky ones
'Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs
Setting fire to our insides for fun
Collecting names of the lovers that went wrong
The lovers that went wrong
We are the reckless, we are the wild youth
Chasing visions of our futures
One day we'll reveal the truth
That one will die before he gets there
And if you're still bleeding, you're the lucky ones
'Cause most of our feelings, they are dead and they are gone
We're setting fire to our insides for fun
Collecting pictures from a flood that wrecked our home
It was a flood that wrecked this home
And you caused it
And you caused it
And you caused it
Well, I've lost it all, I'm just a silhouette
I'm a lifeless face that you'll soon forget
And my eyes are damp from the words you left
Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest
Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest
And if you're in love, then you are the lucky one
'Cause most of us are bitter over someone
Setting fire to our insides for fun
To distract our hearts from ever missing them
But I'm forever missing him
And you caused it
And you caused it
And you caused it
Our minds are troubled by the emptiness
Destroy the middle, it's a waste of time
From the perfect start to the finish line
And if you're still breathing, you're the lucky ones
'Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs
Setting fire to our insides for fun
Collecting names of the lovers that went wrong
The lovers that went wrong
We are the reckless, we are the wild youth
Chasing visions of our futures
One day we'll reveal the truth
That one will die before he gets there
And if you're still bleeding, you're the lucky ones
'Cause most of our feelings, they are dead and they are gone
We're setting fire to our insides for fun
Collecting pictures from a flood that wrecked our home
It was a flood that wrecked this home
And you caused it
And you caused it
And you caused it
Well, I've lost it all, I'm just a silhouette
I'm a lifeless face that you'll soon forget
And my eyes are damp from the words you left
Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest
Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest
And if you're in love, then you are the lucky one
'Cause most of us are bitter over someone
Setting fire to our insides for fun
To distract our hearts from ever missing them
But I'm forever missing him
And you caused it
And you caused it
And you caused it
Lyrics submitted by KittieWriting, edited by jabada, dbkillerex, Solflux, carrie804, progconst, Pap3r
Youth Lyrics as written by Igor Alexandre Haefeli Elena Veronica Tonra
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
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Hayalperest
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Head > Heels
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“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Generally, I think this song is about growing up and the pain this brings along. It's a scream of pain directed to all those adults who think that young people have nothing to worry about and don't take youngsters seriously. She is opposing strongly to this general illusion of a carefree youth.
"We are the reckless we are the wild youth" to me is meant in an ironic way and is the bottomline of the song, cause clearly this person doesn't feel reckless and wild. At least not in a carefree way as young people are generally supposed to be.
She is painting an image of her generation: young people who have no clue where to go and how to live life. They (want to) die before they grow old (be it by suicide, traffic accidents, drugs,...). They set fire to their insides for fun (literally by smoking sigarettes, but also metaphorical by revolting and experimenting with extreme opinions) They don't understand love. They are just trying...and hurting. The way of life doesn't seem to make sense.
She lost her home (=childhood or feeling of safety) and some particular event or person caused it. She blames this person for it.
No matter how dark the song is, somehow I feel she knows this is just how life goes and that's why she is not keeping the song on a strictly personal level, but is also reaching out to others with sentences like "if you're still in love than you are the lucky ones". She does know love or a feeling of home is possible, but at this moment she just doesn't believe it is meant for her, because she is aching too much.
Perfectly said.
Yes, that's really well explained.<br /> <br /> Though don't you think that the part <br /> "We are the reckless<br /> We are the wild youth<br /> Chasing visions of our futures<br /> One day we'll reveal the truth<br /> That one will die before he gets there"<br /> <br /> Means something like...Striving for something you want so bad in our future, you are reckless, you are wild, you strive so much. But then it reveals that you one day "die" before you get there. Or you actually fail for what you want/you failed for what you fought so hard for.
@Belgica This summary is amazing and so insightful. I give you so much credit for bringing the meaning to this song to life!