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.
(Jane, he's a freak)
(But so am I)
(And we'll always be freaks and we'll never be like other people)
(And you'll never be a freak 'cause you're just too perfect)
Late nights and bloodshot eyes
Clock ticking half past five
We're barely breathing but we're still alive
Go
Our plans are all laid out
Take all these unmarked roads
We blaze the trails to places no one goes, yeah
One last chance to go
If I don't leave tonight I never will, let's go
One last chance to go
Let's take it now in for the kill
In time we find ourselves
Back where we started from
Too weak to fight and much too tired to run, yeah
Before you swallow me
Into your perfect life
I'm not going out without a fight
One last chance to go
If I don't leave tonight I never will, let's go
One last chance to go
Let's take it now in for the kill
(If I had to leave tonight would you come with me?)
(What?)
(If I had to go to New York, and live, tonight, would you come with me?)
But this blueprint's faded grey
And here it seems like just yesterday
When we mapped out the details of our great escape
But still these roads all beckon me
To uncover their mystery
But I fall like dead autumn leaves and let the Jetstream carry me
One last chance to go
If I don't leave tonight I never will, let's go
One last chance to go
(But so am I)
(And we'll always be freaks and we'll never be like other people)
(And you'll never be a freak 'cause you're just too perfect)
Late nights and bloodshot eyes
Clock ticking half past five
We're barely breathing but we're still alive
Go
Our plans are all laid out
Take all these unmarked roads
We blaze the trails to places no one goes, yeah
One last chance to go
If I don't leave tonight I never will, let's go
One last chance to go
Let's take it now in for the kill
In time we find ourselves
Back where we started from
Too weak to fight and much too tired to run, yeah
Before you swallow me
Into your perfect life
I'm not going out without a fight
One last chance to go
If I don't leave tonight I never will, let's go
One last chance to go
Let's take it now in for the kill
(If I had to leave tonight would you come with me?)
(What?)
(If I had to go to New York, and live, tonight, would you come with me?)
But this blueprint's faded grey
And here it seems like just yesterday
When we mapped out the details of our great escape
But still these roads all beckon me
To uncover their mystery
But I fall like dead autumn leaves and let the Jetstream carry me
One last chance to go
If I don't leave tonight I never will, let's go
One last chance to go
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The first two verses are about how the person in the song is filled with so much hope and dreams.. Then the last verse is about him having regrets because he never followed his dreams..
definately about unrealized dreams to break out of conforminty and/or the norm to something more special. besides the line "before you swallow me into your perfect life, i'm not going out without a fight," there's also the end of the song "but I fall like dead autumn leaves and let the jetstream carry me" - he's failed and fallen back into the grey jetstream of conformity
Definitely agree with ChyldeOfTheLotus on the meaning of this song. Amazing song. The intro leads to so much build up, and when the song kicks in it's like a punch in your face, fucking awesome song.
i agree...great song too
I agree, but I also think that the person does not want to be like everyone else. "before you swallow me into your perfect life, i'm not going out without a fight, yeah!" They want to live life to the fullest even if that means takeing chances and makeing mistakes.
anyone know where the sound-byte at the start of this song is from?
the voices at the beginging? i think its from a movie called american beauty
american beauty
great song about dreams unachieved and an individuals fight to be who they want to. nice change from songs about break ups, skateboarding and slashing wrists.
this is a great song and american beauty was a great movie
thanks germantownrd ...can't believe i didn't recognise it was from american beauty!