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.
I, I believed memory might mirror no reflections on me
I, I believed that in forgetting I might set myself free
But I woke up this morning with a piece of past caught in my throat
And then I choked
I, I bled, I tried to hide the heart from the head
And I, I said I bled in the arms of a girl I'd barely met
But I woke up this morning with the present in splinters on the ground
And then I drowned
And if I can't see, it's for want of you
You said I see, if there's nothing here, then it's probably mine
Well, my, my turn to see, if there's nothing here it'll always be mine, mine
I woke up this morning with a piece of past caught in my throat
And then I choked
I, I guess I've learned the taste of the days that will always burn
I, I guess I've learned if it's in the corner of my eye, well I can always turn
'Cause I woke up this morning with the present in splinters on the ground
And then I drowned, yeah
And if I don't see, it's for want of you, you
I, I believed that in forgetting I might set myself free
But I woke up this morning with a piece of past caught in my throat
And then I choked
I, I bled, I tried to hide the heart from the head
And I, I said I bled in the arms of a girl I'd barely met
But I woke up this morning with the present in splinters on the ground
And then I drowned
And if I can't see, it's for want of you
You said I see, if there's nothing here, then it's probably mine
Well, my, my turn to see, if there's nothing here it'll always be mine, mine
I woke up this morning with a piece of past caught in my throat
And then I choked
I, I guess I've learned the taste of the days that will always burn
I, I guess I've learned if it's in the corner of my eye, well I can always turn
'Cause I woke up this morning with the present in splinters on the ground
And then I drowned, yeah
And if I don't see, it's for want of you, you
Lyrics submitted by Fenwik, edited by nbvdr, paluche, BlueDiamondx3
For Want Of Lyrics as written by Michael Scott Fellows Edward Janney
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
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you hit the nail on the head, tsk8rkff. if only all emo sounded like this. bands like jawbreaker and rites of spring don't get the recognition they deserve. they opened the doors for bands like the get up kids and saves the day. if you listen to saves the day's earlier recordings (circa "can't slow down") they're a bit reminiscent of earlier emo, but now they've been watered down and deprecated. what a shame. but at least we've got rites of spring and the likes to fall back on.