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.
She nursed him there
Ooh, over a night
Wasn't so sure she wanted him to stay
What to say, what to say
But soon she was down, soon he was low
At a quarter past a holy no
She had to turn around
When she couldn't hold, oh, she folded
A dissident is here
Escape is never the safest path
Oh, a dissident, a dissident is here
And to this day, she's glided on
Always home but so far away
Like a word misplaced
Nothing to say, what a waste
When she had contact with the conflict
There was meanin', but she sold him to the state
She had to turn around
When she couldn't hold, she folded
A dissident is here
Escape is never the safest path
Oh, a dissident, a dissident is here, oh
She gave him away
When she couldn't hold, no, she folded
A dissident is here
Escape is never the safest path
Oh, a dissident, a dissident is here, oh
Couldn't hold on
She couldn't hold, no, she folded
A dissident is here
Escape is never the safest place, oh
A dissident is here
Ooh, over a night
Wasn't so sure she wanted him to stay
What to say, what to say
But soon she was down, soon he was low
At a quarter past a holy no
She had to turn around
When she couldn't hold, oh, she folded
A dissident is here
Escape is never the safest path
Oh, a dissident, a dissident is here
And to this day, she's glided on
Always home but so far away
Like a word misplaced
Nothing to say, what a waste
When she had contact with the conflict
There was meanin', but she sold him to the state
She had to turn around
When she couldn't hold, she folded
A dissident is here
Escape is never the safest path
Oh, a dissident, a dissident is here, oh
She gave him away
When she couldn't hold, no, she folded
A dissident is here
Escape is never the safest path
Oh, a dissident, a dissident is here, oh
Couldn't hold on
She couldn't hold, no, she folded
A dissident is here
Escape is never the safest place, oh
A dissident is here
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
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,
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
i think it is about a person who falls in love with a rebel/outcast. (referring to definition of 'dissident' as one separated from widesread belief.) the person is intrigued by the other's danger and brazen attitude, and continues to see them despite protest or disapproval. But due to outside pressure from source: the accepted views of society and what she is doing is "wrong" in the eyes of others, she decides to end the relationship despite whatever feelings she may have. (She gave him away when she couldn't hold on). She regrets her decision and distances herself from others. (always home but so far away). She thinks that she should have stood up for him/her feelings, and feels bad that she didn't. (nothing said, what a waste). the line "when she had contact with the conflict, there was meaning...but she sold him to the state, she had to turn around" laments that when she first met the person she found meaning for herself with him instead of becoming a slave to society. But she cracks under the pressure of not being accepted by society and so she "sold him to the state" which i think means that she placed the values of society above their friendship/relationship, and sold him out when she dumped him. She realizes that escaping from such rebelliousness and conflict is not a solution, and that sometimes being callous to the viewpoints of others is necessary.
by the way, this song got me hooked on pearl jam. They kick ass and are my favorite band. very underappreciated, but not by the fans. screw their critics.
I think that you are are more correct. I think it is about a woman who falls in love with a "bad boy kind of guy " who may be int rouble with the law. .... possbily a drug dealer type..... she is pressured by the situation...probably abused and mistreated in the relationship; Though she loves him she mya have been pressured by police to be arrested and/or turn him in.... he is the dissident.<br /> She could escape and run... and possibly be caught or turn him in... She was pobably a little pissed at him anyway.... but alas still loved the @*%@