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.
See the tension in your face
Feel the nerves when we embrace
What emotions do you hide?
All those years of silent thought
Betrayed by those who help you sought
Exiled, lost and forced inside
If you want me
I will listen to your words
The dreams you have deferred
The battles fought
If it helps to
Take me to those dark extremes
The meaning of your dreams
The way you've thought
Just talk
I'm listening
Just talk
I know your tastes in food and wine
But never really what's on your mind
What's going on inside your head?
I hear you say what you can or can't
I'm never sure what it is you want
There's always something left unsaid
If you want me
I will listen to your words
The dreams you have deferred
The battles fought
If it helps to
Take me to those dark extremes
The meaning of your dreams
The way you've thought
Just talk
I'm listening
Just talk
We ride the waves of joy and fear
I see you on the brink of tears
I never know how you'll react
Then the sudden laughter rings
The sun is shining, life begins
Happiness could be a fact
If you want me
I will listen to your words
The dreams you have deferred
The battles fought
If it helps to
Take me to those dark extremes
The meaning of your dreams
The way you've thought
Just talk
I'm listening
Just talk
Believe me
Just talk
I will listen to your hopes
I will listen to your dreams
Anything you want to be
Believe me
I will listen to you now
Then again and all the while
I wanna see you smile again
Oh, yeah
I'm listening
Feel the nerves when we embrace
What emotions do you hide?
All those years of silent thought
Betrayed by those who help you sought
Exiled, lost and forced inside
If you want me
I will listen to your words
The dreams you have deferred
The battles fought
If it helps to
Take me to those dark extremes
The meaning of your dreams
The way you've thought
Just talk
I'm listening
Just talk
I know your tastes in food and wine
But never really what's on your mind
What's going on inside your head?
I hear you say what you can or can't
I'm never sure what it is you want
There's always something left unsaid
If you want me
I will listen to your words
The dreams you have deferred
The battles fought
If it helps to
Take me to those dark extremes
The meaning of your dreams
The way you've thought
Just talk
I'm listening
Just talk
We ride the waves of joy and fear
I see you on the brink of tears
I never know how you'll react
Then the sudden laughter rings
The sun is shining, life begins
Happiness could be a fact
If you want me
I will listen to your words
The dreams you have deferred
The battles fought
If it helps to
Take me to those dark extremes
The meaning of your dreams
The way you've thought
Just talk
I'm listening
Just talk
Believe me
Just talk
I will listen to your hopes
I will listen to your dreams
Anything you want to be
Believe me
I will listen to you now
Then again and all the while
I wanna see you smile again
Oh, yeah
I'm listening
Lyrics submitted by AkibaRed
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
In my opinion, the song is from the perspective of a person who is trying to look out for a girl he's with, but she will not open herself up to him and tell of her problems, so much so that their relationship is mostly superficial (I know your tastes in food and wine/But never really what's on your mind). Despite this barrier, he still wants to reach out to her and help her out (If you want me/ I will listen to your words; Just talk/I'm listening). Additionally, he notices her problems (See the tension in your face/Feel the nerves when we embrace), but she has kept her problems bottled up inside (What emotions do you hide?/All the years of silent thought).