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 was the color of TV
her mouth curled under like a metal snake
although Holy Wood was sad
they'd remember this as Valentine's day
flies are waiting
In the Shadow of the Valley of Death
In the Shadow of the Valley of Death
slit our wrists and send us to heaven
the first flower after the flood
I saw that pregnant girl today
she didn't know that it was dead inside
even though it was alive
some of us are really born to die
flies are waiting
In the Shadow of the Valley of Death
In the Shadow of the Valley of Death
slit our wrists and send us to heaven
the first flower after the flood
In the Shadow of the Valley of Death
In the Shadow of the Valley of Death
her mouth curled under like a metal snake
although Holy Wood was sad
they'd remember this as Valentine's day
flies are waiting
In the Shadow of the Valley of Death
In the Shadow of the Valley of Death
slit our wrists and send us to heaven
the first flower after the flood
I saw that pregnant girl today
she didn't know that it was dead inside
even though it was alive
some of us are really born to die
flies are waiting
In the Shadow of the Valley of Death
In the Shadow of the Valley of Death
slit our wrists and send us to heaven
the first flower after the flood
In the Shadow of the Valley of Death
In the Shadow of the Valley of Death
Lyrics submitted by Ice
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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
Firstly, the title - Columbine happened on Valentine's Day. I think we can safely assume that the themes he references in his songs that are more overtly about Columbine can be applied to this song as well. Themes such as death or martyrdom making you famous, Celebretarianism, being heard only after death, the media's exploitation of violence and their subsequent witch hunts, et cetera.
Of course, the most ironic part about the title is that Valentine's day is supposed to be about love, and this song is more about death.
"She was the color of TV Her mouth curled under like a metal snake Although Holy Wood was sad They'd remember this as Valentines day Flies are waiting"
Honestly, this section kind of confuses me. I don't understand the significance of these lines. I do feel that the first line is very reminiscent of the Mechanical Animals lyrics and themes.
"In the shadow of the valley of death In the shadow of the valley of death"
This is a play on the Biblical phrase "In the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me". I believe he switched the order to be a more overt reference to the present day Death Valley which is near Hollywood.
"They slit our wrists and send us to heaven"
A reference to death and stardom. They'll kill you, then you'll become a god. You'll be remembered and known even more than what you were when you were alive. Just a reference to the theme of Celebretarianism in general.
"The first flower after the flood"
A reference to the Biblical flood. Noah knew the water level was lowering and land could be reached when a turtledove came back with an olive leaf in it's beak. It is also a reference to the last song in the soundtrack for El Topo by Alejandro Jodorowsky which goes by the same name.
"I saw that pregnant girl today She didn't know that it was dead inside Even though it was alive Some of us are really born to die Flies are waiting"
I think this is a reference to the boy/worm in ACSS. There are two reasons for that - he mentions that the child is dead inside (a reference to being alive, but dead in sin as Christians like to say), born to die, just like the AntiChrist. Secondly, "Flies are waiting" seems like a blatant reference to Tourniquet where he sings "I never wanted it to ever spoil, but flies will lay their eggs". This may be reaching somewhat, but when flies lay eggs they hatch into maggots (or worms), spoiling the meat. The worms of the flies infected the boy, turning him into a "monster" as referenced in Man That You Fear.
@Rawrishly ... nice try but no cookie. The Columbine massacre happened on April 20th and not Februari 14th which is Valentine's day.