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.
Love of mine
Someday you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark
No blinding light
Or tunnels, to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark
If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
In Catholic school, as vicious as Roman rule
I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black
And I held my tongue as she told me
"Son, fear is the heart of love," so I never went back
And if Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
You and me have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes are all worn down
The time for sleep is now
But it's nothing to cry about
'Cause we'll hold each other soon
In the blackest of rooms
And if Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Someday you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark
No blinding light
Or tunnels, to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark
If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
In Catholic school, as vicious as Roman rule
I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black
And I held my tongue as she told me
"Son, fear is the heart of love," so I never went back
And if Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
You and me have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes are all worn down
The time for sleep is now
But it's nothing to cry about
'Cause we'll hold each other soon
In the blackest of rooms
And if Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Then I'll follow you into the dark
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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"
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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.
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Great version of a great song,
The catholic school bit-- on the surface, he's just telling a story about his youth. He's saying he went to a catholic school that was very strict (i.e., roman rule) The nuns (ladies in black) used to hit him on the knuckle with a ruler (bruised knuckles). One of those nuns told him that fear is the heart of love (christianity teaches christians are to fear god, and from that fear comes love for him). Ben rejects this, but doesn't respond (biting his tongue) and leaves the school (never went back)--or, in a wider interpretation, leaves the faith altogether.
It seems like this verse is included to explain why he doesn't particularly care for either heaven or hell, instead just seeing the afterlife as a darkness.
ohhhhhhh... wow that's a really good interpretation of that, because i was tinking of it too but not that last bit about him not caring for heaven or hell...
That's kind of what I thought too, and to me it was also the reason he rejected mainstream religion, and felt himself an outsider to all its beliefs, like seeing heaven and hell as a classification that didn't include him, explaining the strong imagery of the illuminated 'no's. He kind of sees it as 'the two of us against death', and I think it's interesting how the uncertainty of death is more than a usual humans one, because the religious divide estranged the two of them from other human beings as well.
just to make sure you all know this, The Bible teaches that love is the absence of fear...
Can you provide scripture? Educate me.
Christianity does not teach to fear god. Catholics do. True love is sacrifice. that's coming from a christian
I like this interpretation, but I don't think it's that complicated, or that it has anything to do with religion (directly).<br /> <br /> His teacher told him that fear is the heart of love, and he rejects that notion. That's essentially what that verse boils down to. This fits in with the rest of this song because the main thrust of the song is soothing fears.<br /> <br /> He's saying don't be afraid, I'm going to be with you, etc. "It's nothing to cry about." He's defining his love, and he is going out of his way to emphasize that fear should have no part in it.
"christianity teaches christians are to fear god, and from that fear comes love for him"<br /> Being a Christian and a Catholic, this statement just isnt true. Yes, we're told to fear God's power so that we dont act like we're the shit and that we can do whatever we want. Fear, however, does not produce love and never has. Ask any Christian and they will tell you that having "fear" for God produces absolutely nothing. Just in general, "true and pure love" can only be produced from something positive, not negative. Fear is a complicated issue because people try to justify it as something negative, that creates a positive. Regardless of what you may believe or think, only someone who truly studies or participates in certain practices knows the true content of what is being discussed. Great song. Not a bad interpretation with the rest of the argument
Just to clarify: as used in the bible, Fear means to be in awe of. Christians do not "fear" God meaning we are afraid of him, but rather we are amazed by him and understand that he is powerful.
@ dudvsplanet<br /> <br /> You say that like it's a fact or something, and we all know the bible is just one big grand story, nothing more.<br /> <br /> @ Kay 8D<br /> <br /> So in other words, it's a biased opinion?<br /> <br /> @ Hansen587<br /> <br /> I used to be Catholic/Christian as well, participating in all the rituals, following the rules, knowing the religion, etc... so therefore, what I say about it has merit (is essentially your argument, right?) and I say it was no different than any other cult in the world. Some good things can come out of religious belief, sometimes. but most of the time, it's detrimental to the world, especially when establishment is involved. God may not be the one telling us to fear him (because it has not been proven that anyone ever has heard the voice of god or seen him) but the majority of his deluded followers are sure spreading that message.<br /> <br /> @ buriedalive333<br /> <br /> And your proof of this definition comes from? Oh that's right, the fictional book.
Yours and Stratocaster1688's interpretations, when combined, are bullseye.
@cybercyph Very on point, man. Never thought of it that exact way.
Fear of the Lord is fearing Him, not because of his power, but fear of your faults hurting Him.<br /> <br /> -A Catholic
I love this song so very much. It reminds me so much of my parents. They were both killed in a car accident about a year ago. My mom was killed instantly, and my dad died about an hour later. It's as if he knew that my mom was gone, and he couldn't live without her. It is so much like the song. My dad went to Catholic school when he was younger. It's as if my dad really did follow my mom into the dark. It makes me cry everytime.
You made me cry.
Reading your comment just made me cry. That's sort of beautiful.
@SadieG @SadieG sorry to hear about your parents. You oughtta check out the cover by Yungblud and Halsey. It’s really lovely and will really make you cry
First off, this songs meaning doesn't lie in death, its just using death to define life. For instance, if he is saying that he will follow her into death, hes definatley saying that he is hers for life; that he wants to grow old with her.
It is a fact that many older people after being married for 50 and 60 years grow extremely close. When one dies, the other often dies soon thereafter. And that is mainly the concept this song is trying to convey.
"I will follow you into the dark." = I will always be there for you when you are uncertain, even into the greatest uncertainty of all...death.
It reminds me of the end of "Passenger Seat" from Transatlanticism. "When you are embarrassed, I'll be your pride, when you need direction, then I'll be the guide, for all time."
Spot on man! i think thats exactly wat da song means.. !!
I must say I agree with this completely. That is pretty much the gist of my interpretation. Very well put!
Man, tearing up just reading your response as I think about my wife and my greatest hopes for us for a long, full, life of love. Every night when we go to sleep and i hold her hand, I think that someday, when my time is up, I'll be at peace if I'm holding her hand and facing death together with a lifetime of love ( and warn soles) behind us. <br /> <br /> This is what I always think about when i hear this song.
Yours and cybercyph's interpretations, when combined, are bullseye.
Words can't describe how amazing these lyrics are. I'll do my best to interpret what I believe the meaning of the song is, though.
Love of mine Someday you will die But I'll be close behind I'll follow you into the dark [This shows that he is acknowledging the fact that one day his lover will die, and there is no escaping that fate which all humans face. However, he is reassuring his lover that he will follow her into death and be with her for whatever is to come.]
No blinding light Or tunnels, to gates of white Just our hands clasped so tight Waiting for the hint of a spark [This line suggests that he doesn't believe that you immediately go to Heaven after death. In Catholicism, it is believed that after death a soul goes to Purgatory where they await fate. You don't know yet if you are going to Heaven or Hell, and have to "wait" for whatever is to come, hence "waiting for the hint of a spark".]
If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks Then I'll follow you into the dark [This line is so beautiful. He is telling his lover that if in Purgatory it is decided that he is not fit for Heaven or Hell, he will await the fate of his lover. If she is destined the same fate as he is, hence "if there's no one beside you when your soul embarks", he will follow her to wherever it is she must go. The dark symbolizes the unknown.]
Catholic school, as vicious as Roman rule I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black I held my tongue as she told me, son Fear is the heart of love, so I never went back [This line is about what a teacher of his said to him back when he was at school, which may or may not have inspired him to write this song. "Fear is the heart of love" means that fearing love is natural, and love can only be felt through fear. He did not believe this, and never went back to the school because the thought of what the teacher had said to him was so powerful that he did not want to go back.]
You and me have seen everything to see From Bangkok to Calgary The soles of your shoes are all worn down The time for sleep is now It's nothing to cry about Cause we'll hold each other soon The blackest of rooms [This, I believe, are the most powerful lines in the whole song. It's saying that him and his lover are near the end of their lifetime on Earth. His lover is scared, but he is reassuring her that they won't be apart for long.]
This song is just so beautiful and powerful. I hope one day to experience a love this strong.
I agree with everything except for the interpretation of the line "Fear is the heart of love, so I never went back" I think it actually meant that the "lady in black" who is a nun, is telling him that he needs to fear God in order to love Him. He didn't like the idea of fearing someone so they would love him so he never went back to the school. It was a Catholic school and they do teach some outlandish things.
This song gives me an eargasm.
To me the artist seems to be ensuring his love that wherever she goes, he will follow. And when she dies, whether it be heaven or hell in which she belongs, he will go there too.
The second verse is a story of assurance of this. When he explains that the nun told him that "fear is the heart of love", and so he never returned, he is saying that he is confident and sure of their love for each other, and isn't afraid to say that he will follow her anywhere.
The third verse is a different kind of assurance. It seems his love's time has come: "the soles of your shoes are all worn down, the time for sleep is now". He is telling her not to worry, that death isn't scary or bad:"it's nothing to cry about", an that they will together again in the "blackest of rooms", that is, of course, peaceful oblivion.
The main line,"I will follow you into the dark", does not neccessarily mean she is going to hell, rather that he will follow her into the unknown, totally trusting their love in being utterly unconditional.
It's a beautiful song.
I don't really like to view this as a song mainly about death; rather I think of it as an extremely romantic song, poignantly and achingly illustrating a love and connection so deep that the only way to fully express his profound emotion is to promise that he'll do his best to follow his love even off of this mortal coil into the black unknown.
I'm pretty sure this is my favorite song on the new CD.
Fairly certain this song is about following your love to the afterlife, whether it be Heaven or Hell, it makes no matter what the consequence is because the love is that strong, and you wish to continue to be with that person.
I wrote a song very similar to this, but going back to my old Plans CD, I then realized I must have been subconsciously inspired by the song. <3 Death Cab.
I think it is a thought into the relationship between death and love. By saying "I will follow you into the dark," the artist is trying to say that he is unsure of what will happen after death, and doesn't expect his love to be sure either. 'Dark' I think represents an unknown. So by saying "I will follow you into the dark," the artist is saying "I will follow you into the unknown," or even "into nothing," because he doesn't care if there is nothing as long as his love is there with him.
The part about "vacancy signs," I think is saying that he trusts in his beliefs, but if what he believes doesn't accept them together, he will face the resulting nothingness. He will go into a scary, dark, and ultimately unknown place for her, because there is nothing else that matters but her.
Overall, the song is trying to express the deep emotion that the artist feels toward his love, and how he would be willing to face anything for her.