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 don't know why
You want to follow me tonight
When the rest of the world
With whom I've crossed and I've quarreled
Let's me down so
For a thousand reasons that I know
To share forever the unrest
With all the demons I possess
Beneath the silver moon
Maybe you were right
But baby I was lonely
I don't want to fight
I'm tired of being sorry
Chandler and Van Nuys
With all the vampires and their brides
We're all bloodless and blind
And longing for a life
Beyond the silver moon
Maybe you were right
But baby I was lonely
I don't want to fight
I'm tired of being sorry
I'm standing in the street
Crying out for you
No one sees me
But the silver moon
So far away â?? so outer space
I've trashed myself â?? I've lost my way
I've got to get to you
I've got to get to you
Maybe you were right
But baby I was lonely
I don't want to fight
I'm tired of being sorry
I'm standing in the street
Crying out for you
No one sees me
But the silver moon
You want to follow me tonight
When the rest of the world
With whom I've crossed and I've quarreled
Let's me down so
For a thousand reasons that I know
To share forever the unrest
With all the demons I possess
Beneath the silver moon
Maybe you were right
But baby I was lonely
I don't want to fight
I'm tired of being sorry
Chandler and Van Nuys
With all the vampires and their brides
We're all bloodless and blind
And longing for a life
Beyond the silver moon
Maybe you were right
But baby I was lonely
I don't want to fight
I'm tired of being sorry
I'm standing in the street
Crying out for you
No one sees me
But the silver moon
So far away â?? so outer space
I've trashed myself â?? I've lost my way
I've got to get to you
I've got to get to you
Maybe you were right
But baby I was lonely
I don't want to fight
I'm tired of being sorry
I'm standing in the street
Crying out for you
No one sees me
But the silver moon
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Okie Dokie, I love this song. Now as far as it's meaning, hmm, well, here's my opinion.
" I don’t know why You want to follow me tonight"
I think the writer of the song went astray and was cheating on his girlfriend and she tailed him.
"When the rest of the world With whom I’ve crossed and I’ve quarreled Let’s me down so For a thousand reasons that I know To share forever the unrest With all the demons I possess Beneath the silver moon"
It sounds like he's at odds with many people in his life, and he realizes it's his fault. I don't see the 'silver moon' as being drugs - like some posters before mentioned, but rather that he is speaking in literal terms, as in the moon itself. Did you ever stand outside at night and just look up at the sky and feel so small and insignificant? I think that's what he's feeling.
"Maybe you were right But baby I was lonely I don’t want to fight I’m tired of being sorry"
Saying he was lonely - it goes back to my comment about cheating. . .maybe he was with a hooker?
"Chandler and Van Nuys With all the vampires and their brides We’re all bloodless and blind And longing for a life Beyond the silver moon"
So it sounds like he's in the San Fernando Valley in California...I know Van Nuys is a town, but think theres also a Van Nuys Blvd....as well as Chandler Blvd...maybe they intersect....if so, it's possible that this is where she followed him to or from and he's referring to the 'vampires and their brides' in reference to pimps and prostitutes. Then the 'bloodless and blind' would be the lack of a real life that those people would have. . .they work the night, like a vampire would.
"Maybe you were right But baby I was lonely I don’t want to fight I’m tired of being sorry I’m standing in the street Crying out for you No one sees me But the silver moon"
Sounds like she (his girlfriend) gave him hell, and drove off and he was literally calling out trying to get her to come back.
"So far away – so outer space I’ve trashed myself – I’ve lost my way I’ve got to get to you"
I think he's totally disgusted with himself and finally waking up and realizing that he needs her.
Whatever the intended meaning, it has a great beat. I wish I lived in California, I know they perform out there and would love to see them, but it's way too far to travel there from the east coast just for a couple of hours. They've written some really cool songs, I hope they find someone to promote them into a nationwide tour.