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.
No matter where I go
No matter what I see
I always end up
Falling backwards to breathe
No matter what I say
No matter what I do
Please always know
That I'm in love with you
I didn't mean for reckless acts
To fall back on your behalf
I'm sorry the love of my life
If I could take the pain you feel
Swear my darling, it is real
Im sorry the love of my life
But you weren't here
To see what I became
To see what I went through
Day by day
It hurts me so much
It kills me inside
That I didn't get to say goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
No matter what you've heard
No matter what's been done
I'm watching over you
From the moonlight to the sun
No matter what they say
No matter what you do
Please always know
That I'm in love with you
I didn't mean to break your heart
No excuse falling apart
I'm sorry the love of my life
If I could take the pain you feel
Swear my darling, it'd be real
And I'm sorry the love of my life
That you weren't there
To see what I became
To see what I went through
Day by day
It hurt me so much
It killed me inside
That I never got to say goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye...
No matter what I see
I always end up
Falling backwards to breathe
No matter what I say
No matter what I do
Please always know
That I'm in love with you
I didn't mean for reckless acts
To fall back on your behalf
I'm sorry the love of my life
If I could take the pain you feel
Swear my darling, it is real
Im sorry the love of my life
But you weren't here
To see what I became
To see what I went through
Day by day
It hurts me so much
It kills me inside
That I didn't get to say goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
No matter what you've heard
No matter what's been done
I'm watching over you
From the moonlight to the sun
No matter what they say
No matter what you do
Please always know
That I'm in love with you
I didn't mean to break your heart
No excuse falling apart
I'm sorry the love of my life
If I could take the pain you feel
Swear my darling, it'd be real
And I'm sorry the love of my life
That you weren't there
To see what I became
To see what I went through
Day by day
It hurt me so much
It killed me inside
That I never got to say goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye...
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.