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.
And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
And sooner or later it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
And sooner or later it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by christopherrto
Iris Lyrics as written by John T. Rzeznik
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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,
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.
I think I really know what this song means because it sort of applies to me (and everybody else on the planet). "I don't want the world to see me/Cuz I don't think that they'd understand." Pretty much sums it up. It's about not showing anybody your true self because you're too afraid. It's hiding yourself behind made-up images, copied from other people and then compiled into one for you, so you don't get hurt. It's about wishing there was just one person you could show your true self to, and finding that person (you think), then losing the nerve. "And you can't fight the tears..." verse is finally realizing you can never show anybody. Or letting a bit of the 'real you' slip. That's the 'moment of truth in the lies'. Nothing feels real because you're hiding, is the "movie" part. I love this song (and hte video) because I really identify with it. This one, and Jumper...
Very true I feel this way everyday I'm not really fake what I show people is real but I can't let them in I've never really had someone that cares about me well that stuck around anyway this song hits me pretty hard I find it near impossible to show my true true self to anyone
Jumper and Iris are my two favorite songs also. And based on your analysis of the song, i think we feel the same about each of these two songs. They are definitely my "depressed" songs and have helped but me through some rough times. Thanks for your analysis. Makes me feel like I'm not the only crazy one out there.
Iris my interaction <br /> <br /> And I'd give up forever to touch you<br /> -I will give up anything to be with you <br /> <br /> 'Cuz I kno that yu feel me somehow<br /> -You can relate to me <br /> <br /> You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be<br /> -you the only person that really know me and that helps blocks out my depression <br /> <br /> And I don't want to go home right now<br /> -I don't want this to end <br /> <br /> And all I can taste is this moment<br /> -cough up in the moment<br /> <br /> And all I can breathe is your life<br /> -we are the same ,different person same life<br /> 'Cause sooner or later it's over<br /> -as good as this is,everything ends<br /> <br /> I just don't want to miss you tonight<br /> -I wanna live in the moment <br /> <br /> And I don't want the world to see me<br /> -Don't want anybody to know the real me ,it's to risky <br /> <br /> Cuhhzz I dn't think that they'd understand<br /> -They just will judge me<br /> <br /> When everything's made to be broken<br /> -in my life it seems like everything is goin wrong/ broke,it alway been like this<br /> <br /> I just want you to know who I am<br /> -I want you to know the real me and why I'm like this and where I'm coming from <br /> <br /> And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming<br /> -when I'm depressed I feel numb so no matter how much you wanna cry so I can fell a little better the tears won't come<br /> <br /> Or the moment of truth in your lies<br /> -you can say you fine but the the truth about you being depressed will surface<br /> <br /> When everything feels like the movies <br /> -life feels like a movie and it gets you thinking what is life, when you over think it it makes you more depressed, (some time I think what is next, they say life is eternal , we'll I don't wanna life for ever but I don't wanna die)<br /> <br /> <br /> And you bleed just to know you're alive <br /> -your depressed so you cut your self and the blood is the thing that make you realize your living(what's real?)<br /> <br /> And I don't want the world to see me<br /> -They won't except me <br /> <br /> 'Cause I don't think that they'd understand<br />
@The Wanlorn<br /> <br /> agree! :)
till this day i really couldn't show my true self... (until - one person, but - now i'm questioning my feelings for him... and i don't think i'll ever reveal my true self again to anyone else ... again) :(
@The Wanlorn well done.
[Comment Removed]
To me this song is about a man who secretly loves a girl who doesn't know it. He is scared to tell her because she might get scared. How he explains it seems to be an obsession that he cannot control and he feels very frustrated by his feelings for her. He desperately wants to tell her he loves her but something is holding him back.
"I don't want the world to see me, because I don't think they'd understand" suggests that he doesn't know how to tell anyone/ express his feelings or he doesn't want people to know because they won't get it or he could be referring "world" as the girl he likes (she won't understand).
"When everything's made to be broken" suggests that he thinks it is wrong to be in love with this girl for some reason, or he tried to stop himself from loving her but can't help it.
"I just want you to know who I am" shows that he really wants the girl to know him on the inside and to know his deep feelings and not to see him as what he seems (how everyone else sees him). He would like her to understand his feelings for her - what makes up his world. It could also mean that she doesn't know who this man is at all and he wants her to meet him.
"when everything feels like the movies" shows that the love he has for this girl is like a love story from a movie - he loves her so much that it's almost un-real/ hard to believe.
A brilliant song, 5 stars - Leah
You probably already know this, but the music video for this song has clips of the movie City of Angles. Its where Nicolas Cage is an angle and finds a woman and falls in love with her. And in the movie, he has to choose wether or not he wants to be human in order to stay with her. Your explanation kinda brought his thoughts and feelings to life lol. Great movie. You should watch.
@Leah96 Excellent interpretation. I agree, that's how I understand this song as well.
@Leah96 Great interpretation! Very relatable too. I am so in love with a girl that it seems unreal, and I was really scared to tell anyone. It feels like it's not too good to be true, but too good and too true.
@Leah96 yes, this is it.
To me this song is a love song at it's base, but you can reach deeper into it and find out about the singer and his personal life and his problems.
And I'd give up forever to touch you 'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
This is showing how much he enjoys her company -he;d give up forever to TOUCH her! Because he believes she understands him
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
This is self deprecating, he doesn't believe he'll go to heaven and he thinks she is so much better than him
And all I can taste is this moment And all I can breathe is your life And sooner or later it's over I just don't wanna miss you tonight
He's caught in the moment, he knows it has to end but he wants it to last at least for the night,
And I don't want the world to see me 'Cause I don't think that they'd understand When everything's meant to be broken I just want you to know who I am
He was hiding from the world, because he thinks that they'd all judge him, but in a world where everything is broken and everything is terrible he found her, who he can open up to and he wants her to know who he is as he trusts her not to judge him
And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
He's used to fighting tears, he cries most, if not every night, but here with her he's not. She makes him happy.
Or the moment of truth in your lies
I'm caught on this, I think there are two possible meanings:
When everything feels like the movies Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive
I think this is something he told her. That sometimes he feels disconnected and numb and cut off -the way you do when watching a movie. He self harms to make himself feel alive, because even pain is better than not feeling.
I just want you to know who I am I just want you to know who I am I just want you to know who I am
I think this is repeated to really get it in our heads that all he wants is for her to know who he is.
So I think this song is about a person who has gone through, or currently has depression, who is messed up right now and afraid and hiding from everyone and basically has a lot of issues. He's finally found someone to talk to, who he feels understands him and he has fallen in love with her. This is his song to her.
Great interpretation. I agree with you. Definitely about the essence of what love really is.
And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming<br /> Or the moment of truth in your lies<br /> When everything feels like the movies<br /> And you bleed just to know you're alive<br /> <br /> The entire verse is more towards the feeling that you get about yourself when you are depressed in general. It makes you feel like crying but no tears come, like everything others believe about you is something you have convinced them to believe based on an ounce of truth, like nothing is real and your just playing a prewritten role, and the only time your anything you feel feels real is when it hurts.
I think the song is about a person who no one understands. Then, this person finds his true love. He/She wants him/her to know that he/she exists and that the true love is the only person in the world who can understand him/her.
It's been five years almost to the day that my first boyfriend died. I'd do anything to have him back here on earth, doing crazy things. I'm still greiving, and I was in complete shock when they told me back in my first year of university. My roommate's friend told me I had to get out and go to a club with them. This was like the day after it happened. Nobody could understand how important he was to me, how he changed my life, how I can't watch Star Wars without crying now, and how important he is to me now.
I know you posted this in 2002, but I'm still really sorry for your loss. You'll meet again someday (:
A while back this happened to you, and I am so sorry for your loss. The pain is unbearable and everything does feel made to be broken. I'd give up forever... It's just cause u want them so bad... So bad that no one can understand. I don't and it just happened to me 2 months ago. My heart is in pieces. Hold on to seeing him again. Talk to him everyday. It has seemed to help me. Though it's been a while u will still be in my thoughts. That many years down the road I can't imagine feeling any better, just tolerating it. It's one of the most ultimate heartbreaking pains, when you lose the one you love. Your soul even hurts... I can't wait to see him again...<br />
@missmiami It's been thirteen years since you posted this, and you're probably not on here very often any more. I am sorry for your loss, and I know what it means when someone who is no longer around or someone who has hurt you isn't in your life. More than that, these things are what make us who we are. Watch Star Wars again, with someone you love. Let yourself cry and tell them why. Cry, not just for him and your loss, but the ways your life has changed since then. :-)
This has to be one of the greatest love songs ever. I think it's about two people in love that can't be together for one reason or another ("You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be / And I don't wanna go home right now"). It's about parting, and a precious little bit of time left together - maybe just one night. I love the first verse after the chorus... I think that has something to do with the pain of parting. The chorus is about how maybe something about the relationship is really complicated, and he doesn't expect anyone else to be able to understand his feelings. "When everything's made to be broken / I just want you to know who I am" is him asking her to truly know and remember him when they're no longer together. So many things in life are fleeting ("made to be broken") and he wants their love to last even after they part.
@SweetestSiren Maybe it's a long-distance relationship?? I'm kind of in one at the moment, so I relate to that sense of parting...
august 08,2008 - my wife was a breast cancer victim... i was holding her hand whispering to her how much i love her and how much i wanted her to stay... i look at her teary eyes staring at me... asking me if am i gonna be ok? are the kids gonna be ok? tears shed while i answered everything's gonna be fine... go... ill see you soon. she hold my hand tight... tears flows from her eyes then she stopped breathing. she died in my arms then i gently closed her eyes and wiped her tears.. for 14 years that weve been together its time for me to kiss her good bye. she died at age of 30 fighting cancer for 3 years... leaving behind our 12 yr old daughter and two sons ages 8 and 7.
My heart goes out to you! I facilitate Grief Recovery programs ... I have been singing and playing this song, because to me these lyrics and music speak deeply ... I hope you can continue to feel that your wife is still with you!<br />
I'm so sorry for your loss. I know the feeling. I lost my spouse about two months ago. It was sudden, so unexpected, so young... He had pneumonia in both lungs, neither of us knew he had it. He was active and happy as ever the day before. That morning I noticed something was wrong so I got him dressed to go to the hospital and he quit breathing on me. Ambulance came and revived him, however too much brain damage had been done due to lack of oxygen. He died in my arms as well. I loved him so much. Friends and family are heartbroken that this would happen to two people who were sooo good to each other. It's a horrible pain, that I would not wish on anyone. It's the kind of pain you suffer through while re-learning your upside down world...I hope things have looked up for you since your post. I'm terrified of a life without my soul mate. Until it's God's timing... I am trying to be patient and (cope) with time... that's about all you can do. Again, I'm so sorry for your loss...
I know this is meant to be a love song but to me it's about my big brother who took his own life, he was 18 and I was 14. He meant everything to me and he was all I had and will always be the most important person in my life. He was a real man and the best father figure a girl could ever wish for. This was played at his funeral and every line is about us to me. I'll never get over it but this song really helped.
Right on ! I facilitate Grief Recovery programs and this song has such a deep meaning for loss and grief ... it is beyond what you can see ...keep feeling your brother !
this is such a good song... its kinda depressing though
ok check this out the first time i ever saw the movie--city of angels it was me and 3 other guys in my room adn by the end of the movie we were all crying .. and trust me im one of the toughest mo-fo out there adn this was one of the only movies that make's me kinda teary eyed- well other than all dog's go to heaven of course----
@supersprm57 that's sweet. :-) all dogs go to heaven was incredible, as well. Have to agree with you there. But who said being a guy and crying over something that moves you isn't manly? I think having the balls to let it out is what makes you a real guy. :-)