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.
Surrender then start your engines
You'll know quite soon what my mistake was
For those on horseback or dog sled
You turn on at the bend in the road
I hear she still grants forgiveness
Although I willingly forgot her
The offering is molasses and you say
I guess I'm an underwater thing
So I guess I can't take it personally
I guess I'm an underwater thing
I'm liquid running
There's a sea secret in me
It's plain to see it is rising
But I must be flowing liquid diamonds
Calling for my soul at the corners of the world
I know she's playing poker with the rest of the stragglers
Calling for my soul at the corners of the world
I know she's playing poker with the rest the rest
And if your friends don't come back to you
And you know this is madness
A lilac mess in your prom dress
And you say
I guess I'm an underwater thing
I go I go inside her shell
I see it so and you're doing oh so well these days
You do it again and I say it's coming back again
Something like the saturdays such was it
Can you bring me those jeans
Keep it back daddy's done preaching in to himself
Keep it just between us
It's liquid
Liquid
Liquid
You'll know quite soon what my mistake was
For those on horseback or dog sled
You turn on at the bend in the road
I hear she still grants forgiveness
Although I willingly forgot her
The offering is molasses and you say
I guess I'm an underwater thing
So I guess I can't take it personally
I guess I'm an underwater thing
I'm liquid running
There's a sea secret in me
It's plain to see it is rising
But I must be flowing liquid diamonds
Calling for my soul at the corners of the world
I know she's playing poker with the rest of the stragglers
Calling for my soul at the corners of the world
I know she's playing poker with the rest the rest
And if your friends don't come back to you
And you know this is madness
A lilac mess in your prom dress
And you say
I guess I'm an underwater thing
I go I go inside her shell
I see it so and you're doing oh so well these days
You do it again and I say it's coming back again
Something like the saturdays such was it
Can you bring me those jeans
Keep it back daddy's done preaching in to himself
Keep it just between us
It's liquid
Liquid
Liquid
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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
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.
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”
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
"I don't know of anybody who's gonna be fulfilled if they get hit by a bus. You have to surrender to that eternal need to be fulfilled. That's very much what Liquid Diamonds was for me."
I think it's pretty clear this song is about her miscarriage.
What is so great about this song is its amazing beat. I always thought the snare drum sounded really familiar. I listened to the Led Zeppelin song "When the Levee Breaks," and I swear Tori must have sampled and altered the snare drum from that song.
Which would make sense, as she dated Robert Plant. Plus, the whole image of a levee breaking seems to conjure up the idea of a miscarriage.
I might add that the phrase "liquid diamonds" came from The Sandman (Tori is big Sandman fan, and is good friends with Neil Gaiman, so reference is obvious).
Just to add.. the Delirium character was modeled after Tori. You'll see Neil and "the dream king" referred to in quite a few songs.
One of her greatest songs, I think. I suppose Merchantpierce (I assume that's a tori quote in your post?)'s post cant describe it any better.
I have no idea what this song is about... would someone like to share an interpretation?
I still haven't nearly figured out the entire song, but the line "underwater thing" has gained new meaning for me.
"I guess I'm an underwater thing..." I interpret this as she means under water.. blue, sad, stifled.. she can't breathe, she's struggling in the depths.. and *also: she's misunderstood. she says, "I guess I can't take it personally." People are misreading her. She's blurred by the crests of water. You know when you try to look under the water, but all you see is the surface? That's what Tori means. people have a disfigured, distorted and unclear vision of her, and that upsets her greatly because she's been through hell and she feels like a terrible mess.
this song is about her miscarriage. "liquid diamonds" is a metaphor for the actual physical substance of the baby that she lost - the blood, fetus, etc. These things are precious, like diamonds...and flowed from her when she wasn't ready. "i guess i'm an underwater thing" - this is what the baby is saying. meaning it was only meant to be an underwater thing, not ever meant to come out into the air. So, tori "can't take it personally".. meaning.. it was not meant to be, it's not Tori's fault...not something she did. "calling for myself, at the corner of the world, i know she's playing poker with the rest of the stragglers".. this is the soul of her child..she's calling to the soul of her unborn baby, who she knows is everywhere and nowhere, "playing poker", or existing, with the other souls who have not made it here yet.
This song came to me during a psychotherapy workshop... Liquid diamonds is a metaphor of tears for me. The salt carried by the feminine side that must be realised and hold on as a precious gift.
I had someone very dear to me betray all of his friends, including myself.
So I look at this song in a dual context, like I do with so many of Tori's songs. It is about her miscarriage, but it is also about betrayal and deception for me.
"And if your friends don't come back to you. And you know that this is madness."