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.
Makin' my way downtown
Walkin' fast, faces pass and I'm homebound
Starin' blankly ahead, just making my way
Makin' a way through the crowd
And I need you
And I miss you
And now I wonder
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time would pass me by?
'Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you tonight
It's always times like these when I think of you
And I wonder if you ever think of me
'Cause everything's so wrong and I don't belong
Living in your precious memory
'Cause I'll need you
And I'll miss you
And now I wonder
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time would pass me by?
Oh 'cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you tonight
And I, I don't wanna let you know
I, I drown in your memory
I, I don't wanna let this go
I, I don't
Makin' my way downtown
Walkin' fast, faces pass and I'm homebound
Starin' blankly ahead, just making my way
Makin' a way through the crowd
And I still need you
And I still miss you
And now I wonder
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time would pass us by?
'Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time would pass me by?
'Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you
If I could just hold you
Tonight
Walkin' fast, faces pass and I'm homebound
Starin' blankly ahead, just making my way
Makin' a way through the crowd
And I need you
And I miss you
And now I wonder
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time would pass me by?
'Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you tonight
It's always times like these when I think of you
And I wonder if you ever think of me
'Cause everything's so wrong and I don't belong
Living in your precious memory
'Cause I'll need you
And I'll miss you
And now I wonder
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time would pass me by?
Oh 'cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you tonight
And I, I don't wanna let you know
I, I drown in your memory
I, I don't wanna let this go
I, I don't
Makin' my way downtown
Walkin' fast, faces pass and I'm homebound
Starin' blankly ahead, just making my way
Makin' a way through the crowd
And I still need you
And I still miss you
And now I wonder
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time would pass us by?
'Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time would pass me by?
'Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you
If I could just hold you
Tonight
Lyrics submitted by carboncentric
A Thousand Miles Lyrics as written by Vanessa Carlton
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"I had all and then most of you"
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Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Just A Little Lovin'
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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I'm amazed at how many people misinterpret this song. It may be a love song but this is really a song about HEARTBREAK. If you think this song is about two people in love then you were fooled by the pretty melody and aren't actually paying attention to the lyrics. Even the first lines give it away:
Makin my way downtown Walkin fast Faces pass and I'm homebound Starin blankly ahead Just makin my way Makin my way Through the crowd
Does this sound like a happy relationship? She is not going to HIS home, she is going to her OWN home. She has clearly experienced a heartbreak which is why she is walking this way, without emotion, just trying to get home.
If I could fall Into the sky Do you think time Would pass me by
She wants to freeze time to stop the heartbreak. She doesn't want it to end.
This isn't a happy song. In fact you can hear how sad she is with the words. You can hear exactly how crushed she is. She wants something so badly that she can never have. Maybe he died, maybe he dumped her, but this song is NOT about two people who would walk 1,000 miles to see each other. This song is about ONE PERSON who would walk 1,000 miles to try to save a dying flame.
Makin my way downtown Walkin fast Faces pass and I'm homebound Starin blankly ahead Just makin my way Makin my way Through the crowd
It seems like she is lost in her own world thinking about the boy she loves- ‘faces pass’ whilst she stares ‘blankly ahead’, as if everything has been rendered meaningless without him including herself. She’s just become part of the crowd as if without him and his love she isn’t complete as a person in her own right….almost as if she has lost part of herself and her identity through losing him.
And I need you And I miss you And now I wonder If I could fall Into the sky Do you think time Would pass me by Cause you know I'd Walk a thousand miles If I could just see you tonight
They’ve broken up for whatever reason, possibly distance (sad…) yet she clearly still loves him, needs him and misses him. She wants to just fall into the sky and escape reality because it’s nothing without him. She wants time to pass her by until she can see him again because that’s all she wants and she would do anything to see him- even walk a thousand miles. However, I don’t think it’s necessarily about someone already in a relationship, it could be about someone who loves someone who doesn’t feel the same….it’s really open to anyone!
Its always times like these When I think of you And wonder if you ever think of me Cause everythings so wrong And I dont belong Living in your precious memory
When she’s alone and lost in her thoughts she always thinks of him and she wonders if he thinks of her as well. Maybe she thinks that he isn’t in love with her like she is with him or that he is too good for her…but I think it could also be read as her thinking that this is all wrong and that they shouldn’t be apart and that she shouldn’t just be in his memory, she should be in his here and now….
Cause I need you And I miss you And now I wonder If I could fall Into the sky Do you think time Would pass me by Cause you know I'd Walk a thousand miles If I could just see you tonight
And I... I... Dont want to let you know I... I... Drown in your memory I... I... Dont want to let this go I... I... Don’t
She is afraid to talk to him about how much she is missing him in case he is moving on….she’s drowning in her desperation to be with him but doesn’t want to hold him back.
Makin my way downtown Walkin fast Faces pass and I'm homebound Staring blankly ahead Just makin my way Makin a way Through the crowd And I still need you And I still miss you And now I wonder If I could fall Into the sky Do you think time Would pass us by Cause you know I'd Walk a thousand miles If I could just see you If I could fall Into the sky Do you think time Would pass me by Cause you know I'd Walk a thousand miles If I could just see you If I could just hold you tonight
I reckon a lot of people can relate to this song, particularly those in long distance relationships….it’s such a cute song though- simple yet meaningful. It’s sad too though But I guess it’s no secret that love hurts sigh
@loveisthemovement08 This is how I've always thought of the song too.
what does this song mean to me? it means you love someone verrrrrrry much and you'd do anything to see them
this song is about a person missing a loved one and really wants to see them and be with them forever.
i agree w/funnione0622. it's about doing anything in your power to see someone u love...even if it means walking 1,000 miles.
This song definately has to do w/ Love, and how you would go anywhere and do anything for love. It's also showin' how when Love is involved, everything else is just a blur. All the faces are a blur, and you're just makin' your way through, tryin' to find your true love. I LOVE THIS SONG :D...and who gives a crap if she sounds like Michelle Branch!!!!!!!!
r u a guy or a girl?
i really agree with u rick..in the lyrics she feels like shes not good enough 4 him..or maybe she has done sumthing wrong to him and she's trying to make up 4 it?....she feels bad 4 whatever shes done and wants to make up for it...ne way this song tottally rocks
This song is perfect for mu situation because me and my boyfriend are long distance now and everytime i here this song i could cry a river..... i miss him so much, and this song tells him exactly how i feel about missing him! :(
I think this song means that you would do something for someone no matter how far and how much you can do for someone you love. And time doesn't matter.