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.
The sun goes down
The night rolls in
You can feel it starting all over again
The moon comes up
And the music calls
You're getting tired of staring at the same four walls
You're out of your room
And down on the street
Moving through the crowds through the midnight heat
The traffic roars
And the sirens scream
You look at the faces, it's just like a dream
Nobody knows where you're going
Nobody cares where you've been
'Cause you belong to the city
You belong to the night
Living in a river of darkness, beneath the neon light
You were born in the city
Concrete under your feet
It's in your moves, it's in your blood
You're a man of the street
When you said goodbye
You were on the run
Tryin' to get away from the things you'd done
Now you're back again
And you're feeling strange
So much has happened, but nothing has changed
You still don't know where you're going
Your still just a face in the crowd
You belong to the city
You belong to the night
Living in a river of darkness, beneath the neon light
You were born in the city
Concrete under your feet
It's in your blood, it's in your moves
You're a man of the street
You can feel it
You can taste it
You can see it
You can face it
You can hear it
You're getting near it
You want to make it
'Cause you can take it
You belong to the city
You belong to the night
You belong to the city
You belong to the night
You belong
You belong
The night rolls in
You can feel it starting all over again
The moon comes up
And the music calls
You're getting tired of staring at the same four walls
You're out of your room
And down on the street
Moving through the crowds through the midnight heat
The traffic roars
And the sirens scream
You look at the faces, it's just like a dream
Nobody knows where you're going
Nobody cares where you've been
'Cause you belong to the city
You belong to the night
Living in a river of darkness, beneath the neon light
You were born in the city
Concrete under your feet
It's in your moves, it's in your blood
You're a man of the street
When you said goodbye
You were on the run
Tryin' to get away from the things you'd done
Now you're back again
And you're feeling strange
So much has happened, but nothing has changed
You still don't know where you're going
Your still just a face in the crowd
You belong to the city
You belong to the night
Living in a river of darkness, beneath the neon light
You were born in the city
Concrete under your feet
It's in your blood, it's in your moves
You're a man of the street
You can feel it
You can taste it
You can see it
You can face it
You can hear it
You're getting near it
You want to make it
'Cause you can take it
You belong to the city
You belong to the night
You belong to the city
You belong to the night
You belong
You belong
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
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Eeesh, I love this song!
My favorite lines are:
'The moon comes up and the music calls You're gettin' tired of starin at the same four walls.'
and
'Now you're back again and you're feeling strange So much has happened, but nothing has changed.'
As for the meaning, it seems pretty self-explanatory.