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.
You took me to your favourite place on Earth
To see the tree they cut down ten years from your birth.
Our fingers traced in circles round its history,
We brushed our hands right back in time through centuries.
As you held me down, you said:
"I'll see you in the future when we're older
And we are full of stories to be told.
Cross my heart and hope to die,
I'll see you with your laughter lines."
Changes on our hands and on our faces, oh, oh
Memories are mapped out by the lines we'll trace.
As you held me down, you said:
"I'll see you in the future when we're older
And we are full of stories to be told.
Cross my heart and hope to die,
I'll see you with your laughter lines."
Ashen faces in cold breeze,
Ashen faces in cold breeze,
All the stories you will leave,
All the stories you will leave.
I'll see you in the future when we're older
And we are full of stories to be told.
Cross my heart and hope to die,
I'll see you with your laughter lines.
I'll see you in the future when we're old.
I'll see you in the future when we're old.
To see the tree they cut down ten years from your birth.
Our fingers traced in circles round its history,
We brushed our hands right back in time through centuries.
As you held me down, you said:
"I'll see you in the future when we're older
And we are full of stories to be told.
Cross my heart and hope to die,
I'll see you with your laughter lines."
Changes on our hands and on our faces, oh, oh
Memories are mapped out by the lines we'll trace.
As you held me down, you said:
"I'll see you in the future when we're older
And we are full of stories to be told.
Cross my heart and hope to die,
I'll see you with your laughter lines."
Ashen faces in cold breeze,
Ashen faces in cold breeze,
All the stories you will leave,
All the stories you will leave.
I'll see you in the future when we're older
And we are full of stories to be told.
Cross my heart and hope to die,
I'll see you with your laughter lines.
I'll see you in the future when we're old.
I'll see you in the future when we're old.
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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.
Magical
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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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
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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.
This song makes me cry every time I hear it, because though the promise is to meet again when they're old, the immediate moment is a goodbye. It's so painfully bittersweet, and I'm crying again.
This song is about a very dear friendship or relationship that has to split up for some reason (perhaps due to growing up and growing apart). The pair focuses not on the pain of parting, but on how meaningful their bond is, and how much they will enjoy meeting again down the road. The song has a very passionate and bittersweet feeling. “Laughter Lines” begins with a hauntingly beautiful whistled counter-melody that appears several other times throughout the song, including after the first chorus. Dan Smith’s vocals are the only ones used for the majority of the song, but he is joined by backing vocals for the choruses. The first two lines of the last chorus are sung a capella, after which instruments join in again, led by strings. Strings feature prominently, especially later in the song. After Smith delivers the last line of the song, the whistling reappears for an extended counterpoint opposite the strings and Smith’s vocals. The vocals fade out first, then the whistling, and the song ends on a single, sweet note, played by the strings.
This song to me is about a friendship, or any relationship that as ended. Whether it be from death, or just even growing apart. To me, it has to deal with someone who has died, but they will meet again someday. This song makes me cry every time I hear it because it reminds me of my best friend who just passed away.
I think Dan Smith may have read the book, "And the mountains Echoed" as it relates the same sense of that tale. It also seems like Dan's style to write a song about a story that moves him.
Check out the book... it's as heartwrenching as the song..... see if you think it's possible like I do.
@Flyawayfree I agree with you 100% on this. The song had to have been inspired by the book. The mood and melancholic nostalgia and the tree can't be coincidence.
From the first I understood this song to be about a long lasting love, but that it must be put on hold for reasons of growing up. It is a promise of commitment in the future.
Today I saw the official video....don't believe me? Have a look on YouTube...
There is no part of the song that indicates them parting ways. However, this song does draw a corollary between rings of a trees and the proverbial "rings on people" which would be the laughter lines. The author is obviously speaking to an important person....one the author is going to grow old with. And the part about "Ashen faces" is about death, that stories will be left behind.
The first time I heard this song I immediately started to cry. It reminds me of a long lasting forever relationship weather it be a marriage or a friendship. I lost my dad this year and my parent's had one of those wonderful forever relationships, they were togeter for 40 years. For myself I have have two best friends that withstood a 1000 mile separation for 33 years. We have been best friends since elementary and middle school. We have all gone through rough times but the others have always been there to support the other. we are the 3 amigos what hurts one hurts the others. As we get close to our 50th birthdays we can truely say we are older we are beginning to see our laughter lines but we still have a long way to go before they are completely noticable.
I also always cry when hearing this because I have a personal connection with (part of) it. What I think the lyrics mean is:
You took me to your favourite place on Earth To see the tree they cut down ten years from your birth. Our fingers traced in circles round its history, We brushed our hands right back in time through centuries. ^ l This part is where to whole song originates, form when they were kids
As you held me down, you said:
"I'll see you in the future when we're older And we are full of stories to be told. Cross my heart and hope to die, I'll see you with your laughter lines." ^ l This Part is also when they were kids and its the first time happening
Changes on our hands and on our faces, oh, oh Memories are mapped out by the lines we'll trace.
As you held me down, you said:
"I'll see you in the future when we're older And we are full of stories to be told. Cross my heart and hope to die, I'll see you with your laughter lines." ^ l
This part is when they are older and see eachother again and promise the same thing again cause they are still friends
Ashen faces in cold breeze, Ashen faces in cold breeze, All the stories you will leave, All the stories you will leave.
I'll see you in the future when we're older And we are full of stories to be told. Cross my heart and hope to die, I'll see you with your laughter lines.
^ l
And sadly this last part I think represents a funeral. The ashen faces in cold breeze are the sad faces in a cemetery. And since it doesnt say you held me down and said I think this time he is saying it to his friend either like an "I miss you" or "What happened to our promise?"
I'll see you in the future when we're old. I'll see you in the future when we're old. ^ l
This part is him saying "when I die I'll see you"
I think this song is about a young friendship that's torn apart by death. The person who has died is trying to comfort their friend left behind, saying that they'll live their life into old age and be happy, without them, and everything will be okay because the next they meet will in the future and they'll have laughter lines from the memories they had already made with them and the ones they continued to make when they lived on. So, ultimately, it is a goodbye but not really because they'll see each other again.
I also always cry when hearing this because I have a personal connection with (part of) it. What I think the lyrics mean is:
You took me to your favourite place on Earth To see the tree they cut down ten years from your birth. Our fingers traced in circles round its history, We brushed our hands right back in time through centuries. ^ l This part is where to whole song originates, form when they were kids
As you held me down, you said:
"I'll see you in the future when we're older And we are full of stories to be told. Cross my heart and hope to die, I'll see you with your laughter lines." ^ l This Part is also when they were kids and its the first time happening
Changes on our hands and on our faces, oh, oh Memories are mapped out by the lines we'll trace.
As you held me down, you said:
"I'll see you in the future when we're older And we are full of stories to be told. Cross my heart and hope to die, I'll see you with your laughter lines." ^ l
This part is when they are older and see eachother again and promise the same thing again cause they are still friends
Ashen faces in cold breeze, Ashen faces in cold breeze, All the stories you will leave, All the stories you will leave.
I'll see you in the future when we're older And we are full of stories to be told. Cross my heart and hope to die, I'll see you with your laughter lines.
^ l
And sadly this last part I think represents a funeral. The ashen faces in cold breeze are the sad faces in a cemetery. And since it doesnt say you held me down and said I think this time he is saying it to his friend either like an "I miss you" or "What happened to our promise?"
I'll see you in the future when we're old. I'll see you in the future when we're old. ^ l
This part is him saying "when I die I'll see you"