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.
Metaphor for a missing moment
Pull me into your perfect circle
One womb
One shape
One resolve
Liberate this will
To release us all
Gotta cut away, clear away
Snip away and sever this
Umbilical residue that's
Keeping me from killing you
And from pulling you down with me in here
I can almost hear you scream
One more medicated peaceful moment
One more medicated peaceful moment
And I don't wanna feel this overwhelming
Hostility
And I don't wanna feel this overwhelming
Hostility
Gotta cut away, clear away
Snip away and sever this
Umbilical residue
Gotta cut away, clear away
Snip away and sever this
Umbilical residue
Keeping me from killing you
Keeping me from killing you
Pull me into your perfect circle
One womb
One shape
One resolve
Liberate this will
To release us all
Gotta cut away, clear away
Snip away and sever this
Umbilical residue that's
Keeping me from killing you
And from pulling you down with me in here
I can almost hear you scream
One more medicated peaceful moment
One more medicated peaceful moment
And I don't wanna feel this overwhelming
Hostility
And I don't wanna feel this overwhelming
Hostility
Gotta cut away, clear away
Snip away and sever this
Umbilical residue
Gotta cut away, clear away
Snip away and sever this
Umbilical residue
Keeping me from killing you
Keeping me from killing you
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Orestes Lyrics as written by Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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To me this song is about the special bond between a mother and her son. The umbillical residue is a metaphor for the connection between the two. In order for him to be free and for her to be in peace he must cut and sewer this bond. Both people are in pain but only the narrator can do something about it and this song is about his struggle.
It is a very powerful and emotional song and when the lyrics are read along with the song it makes for an emotional cocktail. I know how Maynard feels since I had to cut that bond and let my mother go peacefully last winter