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.
On a cold night in a hotel in New Orleans
came the final blow
And somehow somewhere we lost sight
in our search for that pot of gold
And all that happened I don't understand
Could somebody here, somebody please explain to me
Cause I'm feeling so damn deceived
And I can't run, can't hide, can't get nothing right lately
Theatre of my soul play on child
Ashes to ashes, light the good Lord lays us down
Dust to dust, oh, no
The time has come to lay to rest the years
All the years it took this heart to trust
Maybe too much too soon, I couldn't get my head on straight
All that worry, just wasted time
and now it's much too late to save it
Long forgotten midnight dancer
plays her final role
The curtain falls and I'm still standing
Theatre of my soul you left in vain
Could someone please explain, and I said
I know that nothing's the same
Riding blind on the winds of change
But in my head that scene just keeps on playing
Long forgotten midnight dancer
plays her final role, oh, yes she does
Can't run, can't hide, can't get nothing right lately
The curtain falls and I'm still standing
In the theatre of my soul
Can't run, can't hide, can't get nothing right lately
When time it just keeps on passing,
I got to let it go, let it roll, let it roll, let it roll
Can't run, can't hide, can't get nothing right lately
I keep searching for those long lost answers
In the theatre of my soul
Theatre of my soul
came the final blow
And somehow somewhere we lost sight
in our search for that pot of gold
And all that happened I don't understand
Could somebody here, somebody please explain to me
Cause I'm feeling so damn deceived
And I can't run, can't hide, can't get nothing right lately
Theatre of my soul play on child
Ashes to ashes, light the good Lord lays us down
Dust to dust, oh, no
The time has come to lay to rest the years
All the years it took this heart to trust
Maybe too much too soon, I couldn't get my head on straight
All that worry, just wasted time
and now it's much too late to save it
Long forgotten midnight dancer
plays her final role
The curtain falls and I'm still standing
Theatre of my soul you left in vain
Could someone please explain, and I said
I know that nothing's the same
Riding blind on the winds of change
But in my head that scene just keeps on playing
Long forgotten midnight dancer
plays her final role, oh, yes she does
Can't run, can't hide, can't get nothing right lately
The curtain falls and I'm still standing
In the theatre of my soul
Can't run, can't hide, can't get nothing right lately
When time it just keeps on passing,
I got to let it go, let it roll, let it roll, let it roll
Can't run, can't hide, can't get nothing right lately
I keep searching for those long lost answers
In the theatre of my soul
Theatre of my soul
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Theatre of the Soul Lyrics as written by Bret Michaels Bobby Dall
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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