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.
How long must I stay
How long must I go on
Taking my chances on burning away
Don't take away my daylight
Don't take away my dream
Why must I go
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
Will I make the morning
To see another day
The Gods may come at midnight
They're taking me away
I'm waiting here on death row
I pray for my reprieve
Why must I go
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
The chaplain and the gardener
Have told me how to die
I've used up all my chances
Now's the time to cry
For I can hear the footsteps
The lights have just gone dim
I'm on the final journey
Why must I go
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
Will I make the morning
To see another day
The Gods may come at midnight
They're taking me away
I'm waiting here on death row
I pray for my reprieve
Why must I go
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
The chaplain and the gardener
Have told me how to die
I've used up all my chances
Now's the time to cry
For I can hear the footsteps
The lights have just gone dim
I'm on the final journey
Why must I go
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
How long must I go on
Taking my chances on burning away
Don't take away my daylight
Don't take away my dream
Why must I go
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
Will I make the morning
To see another day
The Gods may come at midnight
They're taking me away
I'm waiting here on death row
I pray for my reprieve
Why must I go
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
The chaplain and the gardener
Have told me how to die
I've used up all my chances
Now's the time to cry
For I can hear the footsteps
The lights have just gone dim
I'm on the final journey
Why must I go
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
Will I make the morning
To see another day
The Gods may come at midnight
They're taking me away
I'm waiting here on death row
I pray for my reprieve
Why must I go
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
The chaplain and the gardener
Have told me how to die
I've used up all my chances
Now's the time to cry
For I can hear the footsteps
The lights have just gone dim
I'm on the final journey
Why must I go
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
To hell and back again
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
To Hell and Back Again Lyrics as written by Paul Quinn Graham Oliver
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
In his memoir Never Surrender..., frontman Biff Byford says they played this uptempo track a lot in 2005, adding it's about someone on death row who was meant to be executed on a Thursday, then wasn't, then another date was set, and he got another reprieve: "I thought, 'that must be f--king awful - just get it over with. A lot of people won't twig that, and I just like the sentiment behind the title. But it doesn't really matter, does it; people like the song, and that's what counts."
However, he doesn't indicate who this unfortunate person might be. explores themes of hardship, resilience, and facing one's fate.