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.
What do you do when you lost faith?
Just pretend it's nothing
A crown of thorns on your head
You are the King of the Damned
Now you're here, your body drained
A victim of betrayal by your own kind
They followed you, now they sold your soul to the devil
Rusty nails through your hands
Rusty nails through your soul
Rusty nails, spikes in your flesh
Rusty nails, blood in your eyes
After a day your body's sore
Flies feasting on your body
Your mouth is dry, your brain is numb
Constant hallucinations
The criminals hanging next to you blabber all kinds of bullshit
It makes you crazy, it drives you mad
You wished them dead now don't you?
Rusty nails through your hands
Rusty nails through your soul
Rusty nails, spikes in your flesh
Rusty nails, blood drips in your eyes
Long was the walk through Jerusalem
Dragging the cross all through the streets
Lost all contact with sanity
Hallucinations torture your feeble mind
Temptations of lust and blasphemy
Sucked dry by the whores of Babylon
Rusty nails through your hands
Rusty nails through your soul
Rusty nails, spikes in your flesh
Rusty nails, blood drips in your eyes
Rusty nails through your hands
Rusty nails through your soul
Rusty nails, rusty nails
Rusty nails
Just pretend it's nothing
A crown of thorns on your head
You are the King of the Damned
Now you're here, your body drained
A victim of betrayal by your own kind
They followed you, now they sold your soul to the devil
Rusty nails through your hands
Rusty nails through your soul
Rusty nails, spikes in your flesh
Rusty nails, blood in your eyes
After a day your body's sore
Flies feasting on your body
Your mouth is dry, your brain is numb
Constant hallucinations
The criminals hanging next to you blabber all kinds of bullshit
It makes you crazy, it drives you mad
You wished them dead now don't you?
Rusty nails through your hands
Rusty nails through your soul
Rusty nails, spikes in your flesh
Rusty nails, blood drips in your eyes
Long was the walk through Jerusalem
Dragging the cross all through the streets
Lost all contact with sanity
Hallucinations torture your feeble mind
Temptations of lust and blasphemy
Sucked dry by the whores of Babylon
Rusty nails through your hands
Rusty nails through your soul
Rusty nails, spikes in your flesh
Rusty nails, blood drips in your eyes
Rusty nails through your hands
Rusty nails through your soul
Rusty nails, rusty nails
Rusty nails
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Rusty Nails Lyrics as written by Berthus Westerhuys Arien Van Weesenbeek
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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