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.
Have you ever been close to tragedy
Or been close to folks who have?
Have you ever felt the pain so powerful
So heavy, you collapse?
No? Well
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get
Have you ever had the odds stacked up so high
You need a strength most don't possess?
Or has it ever come down to do or die?
You've got to rise above the rest
No? Well
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get
I'm not a coward I've just never been tested
I'd like to think that if I was I would pass
Look at the tested and think there but for the grace go I
Might be a coward
I'm afraid of what I might find out
Never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get
Never had to but I'd better knock on wood
'Cause I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to but I'd better knock on wood
'Cause I'm sure it isn't good
And I'm glad I haven't yet
That's the impression that I get
Or been close to folks who have?
Have you ever felt the pain so powerful
So heavy, you collapse?
No? Well
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get
Have you ever had the odds stacked up so high
You need a strength most don't possess?
Or has it ever come down to do or die?
You've got to rise above the rest
No? Well
I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get
I'm not a coward I've just never been tested
I'd like to think that if I was I would pass
Look at the tested and think there but for the grace go I
Might be a coward
I'm afraid of what I might find out
Never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get
Never had to but I'd better knock on wood
'Cause I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to but I'd better knock on wood
'Cause I'm sure it isn't good
And I'm glad I haven't yet
That's the impression that I get
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Gentle Hour
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Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
OK, I think a big comma needs to be noted in the lyrics of this song in the chorus line, it should read "I've never had to, knock on wood", and it talks about the western tradition of 'knocking on wood' (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knocking_on_wood).
I think song is about this writer's admiration for people who have survived through adversity and about him wondering if he was put in a challenging situation whether he could get through it.
So the lines;
"I've never had to, knock on wood, But I know someone who has, Makes me wonder if I could, Makes me wonder if..."
"I'm not a coward, I've just never been tested, I'd like to think that if I was I would pass, Look at the tested and think but for the grace go I, Might be a coward, I'm afraid of what I might find out...
These lines are about the writer never having to face adversity, and how he's glad he hasn't because he's not sure how he'd cope, he might be a coward but he doesn't know because he's never been tested.
i could never make sense of the placement of that "knock on wood" line. that makes all of the sense.
I'm not entirely sure if it needs one myself. To knock on wood can mean to hope for the best, often regarding something that is largely beyond one's control, and I believe this ties into the song's theme of never being in such a situation.
@MammothChris : Yes, thank you! Finally, this song makes sense! For YEARS, I have criticized this song for singing about the opposite of what he means. When people knock on wood, it's because life is good and they want it to stay that way. For someone to say "I've never had to knock on wood," means the singer's life has never been good. So why does he say that he's sure it isn't good to have to knock on wood? I just had this discussion with my wife on the way to work today when this song came on the radio.<br /> <br /> But your comment about the comma makes it all fall into place!