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.
Lying down on the pavement, so happy
Seeming to be in balance, but how could that be
Really I must be jealous, don't tell me
I just gotta leave the broken pieces or it'll be the death of me
Six long years and seven heartbreaks
Broken strings and countless outtakes, why?
Never thought that I would follow through
Got a working title somewhere
And I know one day I'll get there, I'm
Grasping here
I'm looking out for a simple kind of true
Don't know what I am waiting for
I'm holding out for a simple kind of true
At least some kind of a metaphor
It's simple,
Simple and it's true, we got much to do
No excuses they're just useless we've got much to do
It's simple,
Simple and it's true we got much to do
No excuses they're just useless we've got much to do and
I'd say you hung the moon if they ask me
You help me so the plot won't get past me
Sometimes the obvious cannot be seen
At least not by me
I'm looking out for a simple kind of true
Don't know what I am waiting for
I'm holding out for a simple kind of true
At least some kind of a metaphor
Remember all of the times
When we couldn't make up our minds
Hours and years, just disappear
I'm looking out for a simple kind of true
Don't know what I am waiting for
I'm holding out for a simple kind of true
At least some kind of a metaphor
Seeming to be in balance, but how could that be
Really I must be jealous, don't tell me
I just gotta leave the broken pieces or it'll be the death of me
Six long years and seven heartbreaks
Broken strings and countless outtakes, why?
Never thought that I would follow through
Got a working title somewhere
And I know one day I'll get there, I'm
Grasping here
I'm looking out for a simple kind of true
Don't know what I am waiting for
I'm holding out for a simple kind of true
At least some kind of a metaphor
It's simple,
Simple and it's true, we got much to do
No excuses they're just useless we've got much to do
It's simple,
Simple and it's true we got much to do
No excuses they're just useless we've got much to do and
I'd say you hung the moon if they ask me
You help me so the plot won't get past me
Sometimes the obvious cannot be seen
At least not by me
I'm looking out for a simple kind of true
Don't know what I am waiting for
I'm holding out for a simple kind of true
At least some kind of a metaphor
Remember all of the times
When we couldn't make up our minds
Hours and years, just disappear
I'm looking out for a simple kind of true
Don't know what I am waiting for
I'm holding out for a simple kind of true
At least some kind of a metaphor
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“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
In general, I believe this song is about managing creativity and the lack there of. The meaning of this song might not seem completely obvious during the first verse and the chorus. It becomes apparent to me during SA's entire verse. "Countless outtakes" and "Got a working title somewhere and I know one day I'll get there, I'm gasping here." 311 has dug up old outtakes from the Don't Tread on Me days with different working titles to add new ideas and lyrics for this album. SA's verse is a dead give away that this song is about the struggle to come up with ideas for songs the whole band can agree on. On the surface the title and chorus might be thought to be about a relationship. After SA gives it away it's apparent that the band is looking out for songs that are a "simple kind of true" to them. Nick's verses are much more complex and deep. In the first chorus he claims to feel happy wondering how that could be. He then says "Don't tell me I just gotta leave the broken pieces or it will be the death of me." It's like the others told him they won't use some of his ideas which makes him jealous. It's dawned on me that Nick is happy that the writing process has become more of a collaborative combined effort from all band members. He feels jealous because other band members have contributed much more recently and some of his ideas are the broken pieces that he must let go of or it will be the death of him. Ive gathered that in past albums other band mates weren't happy with Nick making most of the decisions about the creative path of songs. That first verse describes how he is grateful for everyone's contributions but has ideas that were left out. He isn't used to this but that's why he now has a side project. As for Nick's last verse, he basically says he would give props to his band mates and give them the credit. He then thanks them for getting through to him on the ideas when maybe at first he wasn't on board with it. This song reveals a lot of the struggle within the band. It's good to see that they are working together better then ever.