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 love this island but this island's killing me
Sitting here in silence, man i don't get no peace
The waves upon my shore take me away piece by piece
Gonna leave everything i know gonna head out towards the sea
Jump off this island gonna head out towards the sea
I love this city man but this city's killing me
Sitting here in all this noise man i don't get no peace
The cars below my street take me away piece by piece
Gonna leave everything i know gonna head out towards the sea
Gonna leave this city man, gonna head out towards the sea
Get miles away, get miles away, get miles away
Get miles
I love this planet but this planet's killin' me
Sitting here in all this grass man i don't get no weed
The sweat comin' from my pores take me away piece by piece
Gonna leave everything i know gonna head to the galaxy
Gonna leave this planet man, gonna head to the galaxy
Get miles away, get miles away, get miles away, get miles away, get miles away, get miles away, get miles away
Get miles
Sitting here in silence, man i don't get no peace
The waves upon my shore take me away piece by piece
Gonna leave everything i know gonna head out towards the sea
Jump off this island gonna head out towards the sea
I love this city man but this city's killing me
Sitting here in all this noise man i don't get no peace
The cars below my street take me away piece by piece
Gonna leave everything i know gonna head out towards the sea
Gonna leave this city man, gonna head out towards the sea
Get miles away, get miles away, get miles away
Get miles
I love this planet but this planet's killin' me
Sitting here in all this grass man i don't get no weed
The sweat comin' from my pores take me away piece by piece
Gonna leave everything i know gonna head to the galaxy
Gonna leave this planet man, gonna head to the galaxy
Get miles away, get miles away, get miles away, get miles away, get miles away, get miles away, get miles away
Get miles
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Listening to this song always reminds me of traveling. i LOVE this song.
This is all about wanting to constantly exclude yourself from anywhere. The person in the song always thinks bigger and bigger in the things he wants to exlude himself from, so an island (England), moves to a city (hates it there) and so finally thinks he needs to get away from the planet into the galaxy. I think his mental progression takes him to drugs for escapism.
Great song from Gomez's Mercury Award winning 'Bring it on' album. Gruff, soulful vocals.
It can really be mental progression into anything. I'd almost want to say not drugs but some higher spiritual plane. He says he can't get weed in the final verse so that makes me want to think he's reaching beyond what we know here on earth.
This song is def. about drug use. Getting miles away from all your problems and the hassles of daily life, and finding a greater consciousness represented by the sea or galaxy.
I love this song so much! I went to see them a coupla months ago, despite never listening to them, and the plyed this song and Ijust got goosebumps! Gomez ROCKS!
I think it's about escapism generally, not specifically through drug use. The first verse I take literally. There's nothing like going and sitting on a cliff and staring out to sea when life gets all a bit too much! The second verse I take literally too - getting away from the hustle and bustle. Although for some, going to the big city is a means of escapism, presumably not so for the songwriter. The third verse is probably metaphorical for drug use. Personally I alwys thought the lyrics were "...in all this grass man i don't get no wheat." Excellent song either way. Saw them live about 12 years ago. Gives me goosebumps thinking about that gig even now.