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.
Leave the bright blue door on the whitewashed wall
Leave the death ledger under City Hall
Leave the joyful air in that rubber ball today
Just leave the lilac print on the linen sheet
Leave the birds you killed at your father's feet
Let the sideways rain and the crooked street remain
'Cause everything, it must belong somewhere
There's a train off in the distance, a bicycle chained to the stairs
Everything, it must belong somewhere
I know that now, that's why I'm staying here
Leave the ocean's roar in the turquoise shell
Leave the widower in his private hell
Leave the liberty in that broken bell today
Just leave the epic poem on its yellow page
Leave the gray macaw in his covered cage
Let the traveling band on the interstate remain
'Cause everything, it must belong somewhere
Soundstage in California, televisions in Times Square, yeah
Everything, it must belong somewhere
I know that now, that's why I'm staying here
Yeah, I know that now, that's why I'm staying here
In truth, the forest hears each sound
Each blade of grass as it lies down
The world requires no audience, no witnesses, no witnesses
Leave the novelist in his daydream tune
Leave the scientist in her Rubik's Cube
Leave the true genius in the padded room today
Leave the hot, white trash in the shopping malls
Leave the hawks of war in their capitals
Let the organ's moan in the cathedral remain
'Cause everything, it must belong somewhere
They locked the devil in the basement, threw God up into the air, yeah
Everything, it must belong somewhere
I know it's true, I wish you'd leave me here
Yes, you know it's true, why don't you leave me here?
Leave the death ledger under City Hall
Leave the joyful air in that rubber ball today
Just leave the lilac print on the linen sheet
Leave the birds you killed at your father's feet
Let the sideways rain and the crooked street remain
'Cause everything, it must belong somewhere
There's a train off in the distance, a bicycle chained to the stairs
Everything, it must belong somewhere
I know that now, that's why I'm staying here
Leave the ocean's roar in the turquoise shell
Leave the widower in his private hell
Leave the liberty in that broken bell today
Just leave the epic poem on its yellow page
Leave the gray macaw in his covered cage
Let the traveling band on the interstate remain
'Cause everything, it must belong somewhere
Soundstage in California, televisions in Times Square, yeah
Everything, it must belong somewhere
I know that now, that's why I'm staying here
Yeah, I know that now, that's why I'm staying here
In truth, the forest hears each sound
Each blade of grass as it lies down
The world requires no audience, no witnesses, no witnesses
Leave the novelist in his daydream tune
Leave the scientist in her Rubik's Cube
Leave the true genius in the padded room today
Leave the hot, white trash in the shopping malls
Leave the hawks of war in their capitals
Let the organ's moan in the cathedral remain
'Cause everything, it must belong somewhere
They locked the devil in the basement, threw God up into the air, yeah
Everything, it must belong somewhere
I know it's true, I wish you'd leave me here
Yes, you know it's true, why don't you leave me here?
Lyrics submitted by apocalypse84
I Must Belong Somewhere [Companion Version] Lyrics as written by Conor Oberst
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Are you guys kidding me? You have completely misinterpreted the meaning of this song.
It's completely and totally ironic. Leaving the poor black child in his crumbling school or leaving a true genius in his padded room... these are both persons that don't belong where they supposedly belong today. Conor is saying how he doesn't belong anywhere. This is especially appropriate, given that this song was written and performed while on tour. Conor places images in this song of people and things that actually do belong where they are currently located today, such as the televisions in Times Square or the sound stages in California. This causes contradiction in his song, which makes the irony and sarcasm even more apparent.
i love songs like this. repetitive, but at the same time, each individual line is in its own way compelling.
"Leave those bad ideas in your troubled head today" i love that one... feels like a reason to ignore suicidal thoughts. just hang on for a little longer.
I disagree with most comments here, I think it is a deeply personal song.
He lists up obviously displaced things and people ("killed bird at your fathers feet", "widower in private hell", "black child in crumbling school", "epic poem on yellow page"). These are things we can all relate to, so they seem to be in the right place, but are actually there because of bad circumstances.
The real message comes through only a few lines "the gold around your finger, the silver in his hair". In line of view of all the other displaced things he obviously thinks that the marriage is also displaced, maybe she is a lost lover or something.
"I'm staying here", "why don't you leave me here?" And she does not need him any more, although he wants to stay.
About "the world requires no audience, no witnesses" I beliebe he is saying that there is no reason to be anywhere just because of the world. The only reason to be somewhere is because of other people.
It seems like a deeply depressing song to me, listing up things that go wrong in this world, feeling unwanted and having to leave, but with no place to go to, because no place matters, only people, loved ones. And the only reason for him to stay is getting married and wants him to leave.
I saw this at Town Hall NYC on the 26th... It was really good. Then I heard it on the NPR thing last night too, but did anyone else think they sounded a bit off? Conor's voice, the instruments... (It seemed that way with Tilly too) Maybe it's just me.
This song is new. I heard a live recording of this, I forget where and when it was.
In the version I heard, I don't know about the rest of them, but the lyrics were "The world requires no AUDIENCE" instead of "The world requires no nobody else."
oh you're probably right brokenspoons...i knew it didn't sound like he said "nobody else" but obviously i was a little absent-minded at the time.
fixed. thanx
i loved this one. <3 so wonderful.
npr.org/templates/story/story.php
meanings kinda obvious, everything belongs somwhere, things that often get overlooked, Heard it last night in Portland, wow.
the real title is definitely "I must belong somewhere"
i agree with "giveup" and also am glad that conor doesn't like cauliflower either.
i really love the tune of this song.