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.
[Abelard] “I remove to a distance from your person with an intention of avoiding you as an enemy; and yet I incessantly seek for you in my mind; I recall your image in my memory, and in different disquietudes I betray and contradict myself. I hate you! I love you!”
[Heloise] "But if I lose you, what have I left to hope for? Why continue on life's pilgrimage, for which I have no support but you, and none in you save the knowledge that you are alive, now that I am forbidden all other pleasures in you, and denied even the joy of your presence which from time to time could restore me to myself?"
[Abelard] “I am at this moment afraid I should seem more indifferent than you fare, and yet I am ashamed to discover my trouble.
Ah, Heloise, how far are we from such a happy temper?
Your heart still burns with that fatal fire you cannot extinguish, and mine is full of trouble and unrest.
Think not, Heloise, that I here enjoy a perfect peace; I will for the last time open my heart to you; I am not yet disengaged from you, and though I fight against my excessive tenderness for you, in spite of all my endeavours I remain but too sensible of your sorrows and long to share in them.”
The hollow bell rings
The cloistered hearts yearn to forget
These mournful but dear remembrances
Sought solace never met
I promise myself that I will forget, yet I cannot
Your words that burn within my heart my bitter tears shall blot
The tree from which I tasted fruit displays now naught but leaves
This history of misfortunes made my heart bleed within me
My heart is pierced with your sorrows, pierced with mine own
With my face pressed I mix my tears with earth, the earth my home
When all is finished, you'll be near, cold ashes need not fear
My tomb shall be the richer for them, lover ever near
The violent motion of my heart
Our sufferings and revolutions
Though time aught to have closed my wounds,
they open up and bleed afresh
Your words sufficient, they bleed afresh
Cold ashes need not fill
our sufferings and revolutions
(x4)
[Heloise] "But if I lose you, what have I left to hope for? Why continue on life's pilgrimage, for which I have no support but you, and none in you save the knowledge that you are alive, now that I am forbidden all other pleasures in you, and denied even the joy of your presence which from time to time could restore me to myself?"
[Abelard] “I am at this moment afraid I should seem more indifferent than you fare, and yet I am ashamed to discover my trouble.
Ah, Heloise, how far are we from such a happy temper?
Your heart still burns with that fatal fire you cannot extinguish, and mine is full of trouble and unrest.
Think not, Heloise, that I here enjoy a perfect peace; I will for the last time open my heart to you; I am not yet disengaged from you, and though I fight against my excessive tenderness for you, in spite of all my endeavours I remain but too sensible of your sorrows and long to share in them.”
The hollow bell rings
The cloistered hearts yearn to forget
These mournful but dear remembrances
Sought solace never met
I promise myself that I will forget, yet I cannot
Your words that burn within my heart my bitter tears shall blot
The tree from which I tasted fruit displays now naught but leaves
This history of misfortunes made my heart bleed within me
My heart is pierced with your sorrows, pierced with mine own
With my face pressed I mix my tears with earth, the earth my home
When all is finished, you'll be near, cold ashes need not fear
My tomb shall be the richer for them, lover ever near
The violent motion of my heart
Our sufferings and revolutions
Though time aught to have closed my wounds,
they open up and bleed afresh
Your words sufficient, they bleed afresh
Cold ashes need not fill
our sufferings and revolutions
(x4)
Lyrics submitted by Octavarium64
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"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
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