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.
If I said what's on my mind
You'd turn and walk away
Disappearing way back in your dreams
It's so hard to be unkind
So easy just to say
That everything is just the way it seems
You look up at me
And somewhere in your mind you see
A man I'll never be
If only I could find a way
I'd feel like I'm the man you believe I am
And it's getting harder every day for me
To hide behind this dream you see
A man I'll never be
I can't get any stronger
I can't climb any higher
You'll never know just how hard I've tried
Cry a little longer
And hold a little tighter
Emotions can't be satisfied
You look up at me
And somewhere in your mind you still see
A man I'll never be
If only I could find a way
I'd feel like I'm the man you believe I am
And it's getting harder every day for me
To hide behind this dream you see
A man I'll never be
You'd turn and walk away
Disappearing way back in your dreams
It's so hard to be unkind
So easy just to say
That everything is just the way it seems
You look up at me
And somewhere in your mind you see
A man I'll never be
If only I could find a way
I'd feel like I'm the man you believe I am
And it's getting harder every day for me
To hide behind this dream you see
A man I'll never be
I can't get any stronger
I can't climb any higher
You'll never know just how hard I've tried
Cry a little longer
And hold a little tighter
Emotions can't be satisfied
You look up at me
And somewhere in your mind you still see
A man I'll never be
If only I could find a way
I'd feel like I'm the man you believe I am
And it's getting harder every day for me
To hide behind this dream you see
A man I'll never be
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More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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
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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
This has been my absolute favorite Boston song since the day I first heard it back in 1978. I believe the song describes a man who is in a relationship with a woman he deeply cares about, but isn't really “the love of his life” he always hoped he would find. "If I said what's on my mind, you'd turn and walk away, disappearing way back in your dreams". For him to tell her how he truly feels would break her heart so he just goes on pretending to love her. "It's so hard to be unkind, so easy just to say that everything is just the way it seems". He can't bring himself to hurt her so he continues to try and find the feelings for her which would make him become the man she believes he is, but he’s finally reached the point where he sees it’s not possible “I can’t get any stronger, and I can’t climb any higher; you’ll never know just how hard I’ve tried”. Even so, he’s not ready to leave her “Cry a little longer and hold a little tighter, emotions can’t be satisfied”. This leaves me wondering whether he really doesn’t believe she is the one, or is simply denying the fact that he loves her and is actually the man he believes he'll never be? Just my thoughts...
R.I.P. Brad. You left us way too soon
@mvetsch Yup. Nailed it.
this song makes me cry every time i hear it my dad dedicated this song to my little sister and i because he said he could never be a good enough father for us and it makes me sad to know that he doesnt know how grate a dad he is ya know? but i do love this song regardless of the tears because it's just one of those songs that never gets old
@PandorasThoughts BINGO! This song reminds me of a poem I read before I became a father; A Little Chap Who Follows Me. One of my all time favorite songs since I first heard it in the late 70s when I was a kid. It finally made sense when I had my daughter and as she grew up. It's so hard to be unkind, but as a dad you have to reprimand. Then there are those trying times when all they have is you and the world around them could crumble at any second. They look at you as a supper hero that guards the structure of sense, security and comfort. Not aware to someone you ARE the man you'll never be. Inside, as anyone else would you'd like to crumble, but you end up getting a little stronger, climbing a little higher, trying a litter harder, crying a little longer and holding a little tighter. Emotions can't be satisfied.
@PandorasThoughts, Beautiful words about your dad.<br />
In my opinion, the best Boston song in the world! great lyrics! sad song! great msg! everytime i hear it, i always cry! if Only i could find a way, i feel like im the man you believe i am!
Pretty sure this is a song Tom Scholz wrote about his relationship with his father. Not about a girl.
I believe when Brad Delp sang this that there was a little more than some people realize, I can relate of alot of Boston songs together and if they were written today I think you would see alot more of the meaning in the lyrics like I have....and not just the obvious meaning but the " futuristic?" foretelling? Anybody with me on these thoughts? I think it kind of weird when Brad did what he did, it still kind of upsets me that one of the best voices ever this side of Freddie Mercury was and will always be...a tough act to follow.....R.I.P. Brad Delp.
Wow a lot of hear felt responses from the guys
But it has occurred to me...... maybe you have it all wrong
If a girl or anyone for that matter looks up at you And somewhere in her mind s/he sees a knight in shining armour, the sun, the moon, the stars Then you should just believe her even if you don't believe it yourself and be very very grateful
Just a ladies perspective xx
BTW that should say HEART - heart felt responses
@sarah70948 I had commented before I got to yours. I am a man that has always felt the exact same way you do and felt it to be an amazingly uplifting and touching song lyrically and musically. I was shocked that no one saw it that way. FYI, here was my post:<br /> <br /> What a difference one letter in the lyrics makes!<br /> <br /> I was reading comments wondering why no one saw the possibility of there being beauty behind a woman seeing so much good in a man and how that could positively motivate him to become a better person--which is the way I had always personally interpreted the song.<br /> <br /> This has been one of my favorite songs for 25 years--so long that I never got online to look up the lyrics because I thought I knew them before the internet was available. <br /> <br /> But looking at the lyrics, one letter changes everything.<br /> <br /> Cry a little longer<br /> And hold a little tighter<br /> Emotions can't be satisfied <br /> <br /> I thought it was "emotions CAN be satisfied".<br /> <br /> The good thing about music, is I can go ahead and pretend that I never discovered this.
@sarah70948 Yep, it's "CAN" be satisfied, so indeed the song has an uplifting feeling when you notice that (just listening again right now). Many songs are like that, just like a painting that can be interpreted & loved in so many different ways. I do think the song presents an essential impasse found in so many relationships, when pure honesty can be what destroys "the myth," but then both lovers can realize that overcoming such a crisis is exactly what makes the bond grow that much stronger.
Probably one of the best overlooked Boston songs... If you have never heard this one, you def. have too! It is great!
The best Boston ballad, the guitar solo in the middle is amazing! The lyrics are kind of sad, either the girl can't see the man he really is or dude has a confidence problem!
Pretty sure this is a song Tom Scholz wrote about his relationship with his father. Not about a girl.
You are correct - Tom wrote this about his relationship with his father and what he perceived to be not living up to his father's expectations - he was an M.I.T. grad and became one of the best rock guitarists in history - his Father wanted him to be more. I believe he has made peace with the situation.
@aka13013 I don't know but I'd bet you're right
@aka13013 <br /> <br /> <br /> I agree
It's pretty much spelled out fer' ya.
It's a crime that less people have commented on this song.
The lyrics pretty much spell it out...boy and girl are in relationship. Girl won't see boy as he is, either thinks or expects too highly of him. Boy sees this and is saddened that he can't be good enough for girl.
Beautiful lyrics, fantastic instrumentals, great vocals. This is Boston.