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 was born a child of grace
Nothing else about the place
Everything was ugly but your beautiful face
It left me no illusion
I saw you in the curve of the moon
In the shadow cast across my room
You heard me in my tune
When I just heard confusion
All because of you
All because of you
All because of you
I am, I am
I like the sound of my own voice
I didn't give anyone else a choice
An intellectual tortoise
Racing with your bullet train
Some people get squashed crossing the tracks
Some people got high-rises on their backs
I'm not broke but you can see the cracks
You can make me perfect again
All because of you
All because of you
All because of you
I am, I am
I'm alive, I'm being born
I just arrived, I'm at the door
Of the place I started out from
And I want back inside
All because of you
All because of you
All because of you
I am
Nothing else about the place
Everything was ugly but your beautiful face
It left me no illusion
I saw you in the curve of the moon
In the shadow cast across my room
You heard me in my tune
When I just heard confusion
All because of you
All because of you
All because of you
I am, I am
I like the sound of my own voice
I didn't give anyone else a choice
An intellectual tortoise
Racing with your bullet train
Some people get squashed crossing the tracks
Some people got high-rises on their backs
I'm not broke but you can see the cracks
You can make me perfect again
All because of you
All because of you
All because of you
I am, I am
I'm alive, I'm being born
I just arrived, I'm at the door
Of the place I started out from
And I want back inside
All because of you
All because of you
All because of you
I am
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
This song IS ABOUT GOD. If you look at the Chorus, Bono sings 'All because of you, I AM'.
In the Bible, when Moses speaks to the burning bush, he asks who he should tell the egyptians sent him. Gods answer...
'I AM WHO I AM, tell them I AM sent you'
This is therefore God's name and Bono is telling God thats its all because of him, I AM.
If you have the special limited edition CD/DVD/Booklet version of the new album, yoiu will see that one of the pages in the booklet is about this song. It has I AM in the middle and about a quote from the Bible, take of your shoes because your on Holy ground blah blah blah.
For further reference read Exodus 3...
@Ross_curfew Then I think that Bono's God was his mother...
Well, I saw an interview with Bono on MTV and he states that this song is a love song to the Who! It is sort of whoish in sound isn't it?
Rayman is probably right on the line: "Some people get squashed crossing the tracks"
but I would like to suggest that that verse and the previous should be read as one: "Some people got high rises on their backs" would therefore be read as "Some people got high rises (yes, HEAVY! flats) on their backs (as a tortoise)". Which, in my opinion would mean that all the intellectual property of such a tortoise does not help win a race with the "bullet train".
On the next line, i'm less certain: "I’m not broke but you can see the cracks" would refer to the cracks between the scales (you know, the seperate definable parts of the shield) of the shield of tortoise. Cracks are a sign of imperfection, wear and tear, which makes it more significant, when he says: I'm not broke (a tortoise functions perfectly with those cracks, so it's not broke). To be perfect, it would then have a smooth shield (impossible/unimaginable in this world, of course). So that's why: "You can make me perfect again"
The next verse, I'm even less certain, but try this: It is about being born-again. As if he left the congregation, the church or the community of God (pick what you want) to go out on a search, but he's back again at the door from whence he has left (belief/God). He knows what is behind that door (for he left it) and he went out searching and now realizes that what he searches is behind that door and now he "wants back inside"
If you accept this story, you can look back on the 1st and 2nd verse.
He is being born and developing (especially mentally), barely accepting consciousness and sees all the ugly things and "your" (God's) beautiful face (referring to a bible text, help please, perhaps Ecclesiastes 8:1?). And also here, the 2nd verse is starting where the 1st stopped. (If you say: "it left me no illusion", it's quite reasonable to expect that you explain on what subject you don't have an illusion (anymore). So hence, the 2nd verse is in the same frame of mind and metaphors as the 1st verse.)
"I saw you in the curve of the moon" would mean that God, at this early point in consciousness, is nothing more than "the man in the moon".
The next sentence, though, is much heavier of nature: "[and] In the shadow cast across my room": without the light (of the man of the moon), there would be no shadow (dualism/duality).
And then, flooded by all the different, chaotic impressions: the person just hears "confusion", when there's actually a "tune" or order in that chaos (as recognised by God).
Then, he leaves God/congregation/etc. (pick whichever suits best). We then arrive (back) at the first line of the 3rd verse: "I like the sound of my own voice" would speak for itself: the person only listens to himself, but something is gnawing, especially when he says:
"I didn't give anyone else a choice", which would imply that he does value the choice (and voice) of others, he is not acting like it, because of the fact that he has left the congregation/God/etc.
And now I'm back where I started. I know it's odd to start at the center of the song and then go forward and then backward, but it makes it comprehendable to me. I do not think I hold the truth, so any additions/improvements/other interpretations are welcome.
PS. This is the religious meaning that can be related to this song, as is said before, the songs of U2 are -due to the ambiguity of the words (and order of sentences!)- multi-interpretable. This, of course, would not mean that the writer would only have 1 interpretation in mind.
being complete
Sounds like he's singing to his wife.
This song could be about anything. God, kids, his wife, the fans, anything.
thats really interesting, damn u2 i love you
Ross Curfew is right on about this song. No doubt this song is about God and how he has saved one or all members of U2, except maybe Adam whom i have heard is not a Christian. Regardless its a great song. I love that U2 has stuck with songs about God since there first album.
i really like how he says 'tortoise'
heh heh