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.
Not talkin' 'bout a year
No not three or four
I don't want that kind of forever
In my life anymore
Forever always seems
To be around when it begins
But forever never seems
To be around when it ends
So give me your forever
Please your forever
Not a day less will do, from you
People spend so much time
Every single day
Runnin' 'round all over town
Givin' their forever away
But no not me, I won't let my forever roam
And now I hope I can find my forever home
So give me your forever
Please your forever
Not a day less will do, from you
Like a hand-less clock with numbers
An infinite of time
No not the forever found
Only in the mind
Forever always seems
To be around when things begin
But forever never seems
To be around when things end
So give me your forever
Please your forever
Not a day less will do
From you
No not three or four
I don't want that kind of forever
In my life anymore
Forever always seems
To be around when it begins
But forever never seems
To be around when it ends
So give me your forever
Please your forever
Not a day less will do, from you
People spend so much time
Every single day
Runnin' 'round all over town
Givin' their forever away
But no not me, I won't let my forever roam
And now I hope I can find my forever home
So give me your forever
Please your forever
Not a day less will do, from you
Like a hand-less clock with numbers
An infinite of time
No not the forever found
Only in the mind
Forever always seems
To be around when things begin
But forever never seems
To be around when things end
So give me your forever
Please your forever
Not a day less will do
From you
Lyrics submitted by dragonflower44
Forever Lyrics as written by Ben Harper
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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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.
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i love the fact that he acknowledges the fact that forever is sort of an abstract idea that no one can really grasp. in reality, when does something really last forever? it seems the last thing that anyone can accurately describe, let alone predict or create. i agree with trauma -- best line for sure. life is so fragile and sooo temporary that "forever" really isn't applicable to anything, save perhaps the idea of love, which i think is a point he makes. rad song....
@fireygoddess - have to disagree. Just because we can’t wrap our heads around forever doesn’t mean it’s a figment of our imaginations that doesn’t exist, because according to the Bible, it most assuredly does. I don’t know ????????♀️ about somethings that last forever, but every single human being who has lived, is living or will live in the future will live forever. The Bible expresses that as fact in no uncertain terms. The fact that some people refuse to believe it doesn’t make it any less true. The only question ????????♀️ about eternal life after death is where and with whom you will live and you have only this one life to make that eternal decision. I hope and pray all who read this comment will make the right decision because you’ll have to live with it FOREVER!