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.
When I have nothing left to feel.
When I have nothing left to say
I'll just let this slip away.
I feel these engines power down.
I feel this heart begin to bleed
as I turn this burning page.
Please forgive me if I bleed.
Please forgive me if I breathe.
I have words I need to say.
Oh so very much to say.
And whose life do I lead?
And whose blood do I bleed?
Whose air do I breathe?
With whose skin now do I feel?
I'm supposed to walk away from here.
I'm supposed to walk away from here.
And whose life do I lead?
Whose blood do I bleed?
Whose air do I now breathe?
I'm convinced there's nothing more.
The day you died I lost my way.
The day you died I lost my mind.
What am I supposed to do?
Is there something more?
The engines power down.
Like a soldier to his end I go.
Because I'm convinced
that there is nothing more.
and whose life do I lead
and whose air do I breathe?
With whose skin and whose blood do I feel?
What happens now?
Have I done something wrong?
Forgive my need to bleed right now.
Please forgive my need to breathe
But I've so much to say
and it wouldn't matter anyway.
You're not here to hear these words that I must say
and I'm convinced inside
that there is nothing more.
Whose life do I lead?
Whose air do I breathe.
Whose blood do I now bleed?
With whose skin now do I feel?
I have nothing left to say.
I have nothing left to feel.
Am I supposed to let this go now,
let darkness come and take you away?
When I have nothing left to say
I'll just let this slip away.
I feel these engines power down.
I feel this heart begin to bleed
as I turn this burning page.
Please forgive me if I bleed.
Please forgive me if I breathe.
I have words I need to say.
Oh so very much to say.
And whose life do I lead?
And whose blood do I bleed?
Whose air do I breathe?
With whose skin now do I feel?
I'm supposed to walk away from here.
I'm supposed to walk away from here.
And whose life do I lead?
Whose blood do I bleed?
Whose air do I now breathe?
I'm convinced there's nothing more.
The day you died I lost my way.
The day you died I lost my mind.
What am I supposed to do?
Is there something more?
The engines power down.
Like a soldier to his end I go.
Because I'm convinced
that there is nothing more.
and whose life do I lead
and whose air do I breathe?
With whose skin and whose blood do I feel?
What happens now?
Have I done something wrong?
Forgive my need to bleed right now.
Please forgive my need to breathe
But I've so much to say
and it wouldn't matter anyway.
You're not here to hear these words that I must say
and I'm convinced inside
that there is nothing more.
Whose life do I lead?
Whose air do I breathe.
Whose blood do I now bleed?
With whose skin now do I feel?
I have nothing left to say.
I have nothing left to feel.
Am I supposed to let this go now,
let darkness come and take you away?
Lyrics submitted by Mopnugget
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this is one of the most beautiful, powerful songs I have ever heard- I think anyone who's ever lost someone can really feel the lyrics 'the day you died i lost my way/the day you died i lost my mind' I think the song is about a friend who died- and he is pleading with that friend to forgive him for still being alive and living, breathing, bleeding. There are still many things he wants to tell the friend, and he realizes that without that friend in his life, he doesn't know who he is- who's life he leads. This is an incredible song