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.
We'll do it all
Everything
On our own
We don't need
Anything
Or anyone
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel
Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads
I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see
I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Everything
On our own
We don't need
Anything
Or anyone
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel
Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads
I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see
I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Lyrics submitted by paulyboy82
Chasing Cars Lyrics as written by Gary Lightbody Natah Connolly
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
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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,
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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.
Like any good songs I think the lyrics are open to multiple interpretations, but for me the song reminds me of those beautiful summer evenings getting to know someone, hoping they feel the same way about you, but feeling like you could live in those moments forever. Without question an amazing song, hopefully a single as well.
I love the song. I hear it as more like declaration of love, will you marry me or can't live without you type sentiment.<br /> <br /> Those three words are not enough & I need your grace, are killer lines for me.
I Love this song. It makes me think about the one I love. Those moments that u always want to stay in, are the moments that change your life.
chasing cars may have an edgy lyrics because it may refer to a slang used by pimps to dismiss their hoes "Go Chase Cars" which means they work the streets. The chorus "If I lay here... would you lie with me" is a play on words. Getting laid and lying about it. "Forget about the world" that's how pimps in the movies seduce their victims by saying that they should forget about what they thought they know about hookers and the life of hoes. IMHO
brian123456, how would you know lol no offence?? :L:L
those three words/are said too much/they're not enough
that is one amazing lyric
Agreed.
@addiction9 I always thought it was "...said too much, BUT not enough".
@addiction9
@addiction9
I couldn't help but chuckle to myself when someone claimed it's about having a dog. Each to their own, I suppose!
It's about insecure teenagers being in love.
It's about being scared to say "I love you" as your parents have told you that every day and you want what you say to mean something.
It's about being frustrated because of the insecurity (and inexperience) of of articulating your feelings. The the fear of being misinterpreted, and perhaps, spoiling what is, is too much to risk.
It's about enjoying the moment with that special person, and enjoying their presence without the need to talk. You're free to imagine happy places with them, and so long as they are next to you, it could even come true.
It's about growing up and finding things out for yourself - ie making mistakes, before you're too old.
A beautiful song, which sums up the innocence of young, and/or naive love,
Beautifully said :)
It actually is about Gary Lightbody's dog (the lead singer). He wrote it for him after his dog passed suddenly.
@originuk I like this theory specifically, but I think it's about one person being insecure while the other is outgoing in a relationship. I noticed something about the music video; Gary is laying in very...dangerous places. Alone. While singing the chorus. Indicating he's talking to someone, trying to convince them to trust him. But the person is insecure, so they don't like it.<br /> However, at the end of the video, he's laying on a bed. Now, I'm not saying he's trying to convince the person to have sex with him; no. I'm simply stating the fact that the insecure one is too scared to show their love for the man. Too scared to show any emotion.
On the snow patrol thing this morning that i watched, gary said his father used to tell him chasing girls was like chasing cars, he wouldn't know what to do if he got one - i think anyway, still a really beautiful song
You've missed a vital part of his father's quote- he said it was like a dog chasing cars - which wouldn't know what to do if it caught one, which makes a little more sense.
To me this song is all about someone telling a girl that he loves her. hes then just asking if she feels the same way about her. It's all in this one line, "'Would you lie with me, and just forget the world." He just wants to be with her and have her in his arms. He loves her and even though he says it, it isn't enough to show how he feel about her
This song makes me feel so sad. I think it's about loving someone so intensly, you really can't live without them. Not being certain if they feel the same way about you. I love the lyrics theyre so powerful, and the fact that he says them slowly and clearly helps you make sense out of them.
@Crimson_heartfoil Perfect Comment
@Crimson_heartfoil
i love coldplay the song snow patrol as much as I love the song it doesn't resonate with me how so many people have this song as their bridal song especially if their is only one admitting that one him/her say their in love
@Crimson_heartfoil Yeah, for me it exactly is like that. It makes me wanna smile and rip the heart out of my chest at the same time. It's one of the most Beautiful Songs I've ever heard. My girlfriend broke up a couple months and I still love her, I just that she would "lie with me and just Forget the world". that song is just incredible
@Crimson_heartfoil Yes I don't know why beautiful / powerful songs like this should make us sad but it happens. I was trying to learn it and started crying during my guitar lesson once. Wahh. Maybe a sense of loss .... <br /> Great song :)
When asked about his favorite song, Gary replied
"chasing cars. just did the vocals for that this morning. the vocals have been refined and i think it's the purist love song i've written. no tinges of darkness or misery, just totally up lifting. - garyL"
"Chasing cars", so much innocence in these two words
chasing cars may have an edgy lyrics because it may refer to a slang used by pimps to dismiss their hoes "Go Chase Cars" which means they work the streets. The chorus "If I lay here... would you lie with me" is a play on words. Getting laid and lying about it. "Forget about the world" that's how pimps in the movies seduce their victims by saying that they should forget about what they thought they know about hookers and the life of hoes. IMHO
Reminds me of my friends. Good friends will just sit with you and do nothing, will cheer you up, will love you forever.
Chasing cars reminds me of "Trainspotting"--it's just doing nothing. Like what kids do when they hang out together.
Idealized love, that's what I hear. This song seems to be the beautiful side of ignoring reality through love, whereas the next song, Shut Your Eyes, seems to be about the dangerous side. Track 4 leads to track 5 and it is eventually revealed that this is a naive state of mind. For however good it feels in the moment, it's a set-up for disaster.
The theme of the album shows up in the line, "Here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see". It's not shut your eyes, but it is some form of blindness.
There is also the matter of lying down on the ground, which appears in this song, Set the Fire to the Third Bar, and Warmer Climate. For some reason, I picture this song as a couple with their backs to the ground, staring up at the stars. It would stand to reason that the ground could represent reality, as they would have their backs to reality in this song, later to be faced as "cold" reality and "warm" reality in the other songs, respectively.
I can't get used to the title, though, it just doesn't seem like the heart of the song to me. The explanation, "he wouldn't know what to do if he caught one" makes sense, but I still don't like it.
Great song though, I can't pick on it too much. This is simply a great album.
I don't know. I think you could take it another way, too, though.<br /> <br /> It may have been a remark by his father, but it could also be asking whether the other person is willing to just waste some time on him.
perfect, i really agree with this. this song is about the beginning of idealized love, inviting the beloved to throw away responsibility, but the song doesn't deal with the inevitable aftermath of broken hearts and sadness and pain. <br /> <br /> i also agree about the chasing cars thing--it is probably meant to be a little bit of a mysterious reference to that chasing cars thing--maybe an acknowledgment that the relationship itself is like catching the car and not really knowing what to do with it. it might not work perfectly but it makes a lot more sense than a lot of other popular songs with lyrics that are just nonsensical, even if musically beautiful.<br /> <br /> thank you it's nice to see a review that we can agree with.
@davidecoyote <br /> Dog? No of course not.<br /> It's a sheep. <br /> <br /> A sheep, like all the other "I 🤍 ewe" songs.<br /> <br /> Brown eyed girl, Nothing compares 2 ewe. Someone like ewe. all the rest.