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.
[Lee]
We had just left shore when everything began to happen at once
the water came in and we started to go down
i looked at jill and she looked back, thinking it would be alright to go down
then the railings broke and the motors gave out
the hall emptied out and no-one was left for the band
the amps all wet, speakers burst, soaked
we, up three flight now, tried to meet up with the galley crew
but it seemed everyone had gone
we had a smoke to pass some time
jill said ``I'd love to, right now"
what could i say, we did while the waters rose, licking our feet
it was fun and funny so we laughed
I loved the way she could laugh, so full bodied
when we hit the sky we were high over the rooves
a field of gnarled antennas coiling upwards
waves and waveforms joining in a nice hot blast
so different from the boat
the cold silver sky opened for us and we passed through
last i saw of jill she was heading into the coils of the antennae
laughing, so beautiful
saying she hadn't yet had her fill of the boys there and the electricity
saying she wanted to plug in again and fry a bit
i said ``watch the water love"
she kept laughing and shook her hair
she said ``I'd love to, right now, you know"
so we did, and had a smoke too, and her lips parted
there in amongst the coiling snakes of an antenna she looked right at home
the waves came up and a blinding flash caught me dreaming of her
as she looked all crossed with wires and sparks watching the blast
everything went orange and all my thoughts dissolved inwards in the cloud
i thought one last: how different from the sea is the boat
We had just left shore when everything began to happen at once
the water came in and we started to go down
i looked at jill and she looked back, thinking it would be alright to go down
then the railings broke and the motors gave out
the hall emptied out and no-one was left for the band
the amps all wet, speakers burst, soaked
we, up three flight now, tried to meet up with the galley crew
but it seemed everyone had gone
we had a smoke to pass some time
jill said ``I'd love to, right now"
what could i say, we did while the waters rose, licking our feet
it was fun and funny so we laughed
I loved the way she could laugh, so full bodied
when we hit the sky we were high over the rooves
a field of gnarled antennas coiling upwards
waves and waveforms joining in a nice hot blast
so different from the boat
the cold silver sky opened for us and we passed through
last i saw of jill she was heading into the coils of the antennae
laughing, so beautiful
saying she hadn't yet had her fill of the boys there and the electricity
saying she wanted to plug in again and fry a bit
i said ``watch the water love"
she kept laughing and shook her hair
she said ``I'd love to, right now, you know"
so we did, and had a smoke too, and her lips parted
there in amongst the coiling snakes of an antenna she looked right at home
the waves came up and a blinding flash caught me dreaming of her
as she looked all crossed with wires and sparks watching the blast
everything went orange and all my thoughts dissolved inwards in the cloud
i thought one last: how different from the sea is the boat
Lyrics submitted by shut
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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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I think it sounds like Lee. What are your sources for this information?