I never knew
I never knew that everything was falling through
That everyone I knew was waiting on a cue
To turn and run when all I needed was the truth
But that's how it's got to be
It's coming down to nothing more than apathy
I'd rather run the other way than stay and see
The smoke and who's still standing when it clears

Everyone knows I'm in
Over my head
With eight seconds left in overtime
She's on your mind

Let's rearrange
I wish you were a stranger I could disengage
Say that we agree and then never change
Soften a bit until we all just get along
But that's disregard
Find another friend and you discard
As you lose the argument in a cable car
Hanging above as the canyon comes between

Everyone knows I'm in
Over my head
With eight seconds left in overtime
She's on your mind

And suddenly I become a part of your past
I'm becoming the part that don't last
I'm losing you and its effortless
Without a sound we lose sight of the ground
In the throw around
Never thought that you wanted to bring it down
I won't let it go down till we torch it ourselves

Everyone knows I'm in
Over my head
With eight seconds left in overtime
She's on your mind



Lyrics submitted by Raptor98

Track duration: 03:56


Over My Head (Cable Car) song meanings
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222 Comments

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  • +1
    My Interpretation:Rumors speculate that the song is about his brother, but it's so much more than that.

    The song has many meanings to it, but it is like a confidence booster that'll get you through such tough times. Basically, it can be about getting over a breakup with a girl, someone who is ridiculed but feels great about himself. It is as if it is begging to you, "Never give up, keep going, you'll succeed someday. You can make it, I have faith in you!". I don't know, but that's just the impression I got out of it.
    Flag setheryon August 30, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song means he lost his girlfriend and he wants to be with her, but he and everyone else knows it's hopeless.
    Flag ClockworkOctopuson June 19, 2012   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation:I know this song is about his brother, but I interpret it as a really hard break up where there's no one there for him.

    I never knew
    I never knew that everything was falling through
    That everyone I knew was waiting on a cue
    To turn and run when all I needed was the truth

    [As soon as he broke up with the girlfriend everyone just fled, no one wanted anything to do with him, it's like - fair weather friends, when everything is good they're there, but when it's bad they all flee.]

    But that's how it's got to be
    It's coming down to nothing more than apathy
    I'd rather run the other way than stay and see
    The smoke and who's still standing when it clears

    [He accepts the fact that they're are gonna be fake friends in life, and basically he says that he's learned that nothing can help that, but he also wants to see who's really his friend, and who's gonna still be there when things are bad.]

    Everyone knows I'm in
    Over my head
    With eight seconds left in overtime
    She's on your mind

    [Everyone knows that he's obviously still thinking about this girlfriend, and it's pushing them away because she's all he thinks about.]

    Let's rearrange
    I wish you were a stranger I could disengage
    Say that we agree and then never change
    Soften a bit until we all just get along

    [He wishes that he could just get rid of all thoughts of this girlfriend and forget about her (disengage0, and say that they agree on their break up, and that they can be just friends, but they know that it won't happen]

    But that's disregard
    Find another friend and you discard
    As you lose the argument in a cable car
    Hanging above as the canyon comes between

    [They know it'll never happen, and he is afraid that she will find a new lover, and they're arguing about it]

    Everyone knows I'm in
    Over my head
    With eight seconds left in overtime
    She's on your mind

    [Same as before]

    And suddenly I become a part of your past
    I'm becoming the part that don't last
    I'm losing you and its effortless

    [So they break up, and he's a part of her past, and it's clear he's not gonna be in her life again, so without any effort they're just done.]

    Without a sound we lose sight of the ground
    In the throw around
    Never thought that you wanted to bring it down
    I won't let it go down till we torch it ourselves

    [They lose sight of what made them fall in love in the first place, and he never thought she wanted to break up.]


    Everyone knows I'm in
    Over my head
    With eight seconds left in overtime
    She's on your mind

    [Same as before]

    I know this is a little out there, but I just went through a situation like this so...yeah.
    Flag liljojo204on May 16, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Actually, in an interview, Isaac Slade (the lead singer), said how this song was about his relationship between him and his brother. They were having a falling out and had nasty arguments, and were turning into different people. And this is just about the struggle in their relationship. And how he couldn't turn his back on him, because they were more than just strangers or two people who know each other. His brother's name is Caleb and the 'cable car' part is Caleb's nickname.
    Flag theplasticstarson April 04, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Lol I might be analysing too much but I feel like the song's about this guy being confused, going crazy from all the thinking and he pretty much kinda like this guy but yknow.. every time he wanna take a risk to tell him, "she's on your mind".. that guy likes a girl. Lol i think i'm the only one having this perspective of the song HAHAHAHAHA ok its definitely not it but it could be.. in a way, right? lol
    Flag dinosaurslovescookieson February 28, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:Well this is my interpretation, this songs mean a lot to me because it's kinda what i'm going through.
    I never knew
    I never knew that everything was falling through

    Well that's just obv everything is chaging and falling.

    That everyone I knew was waiting on a cue
    To turn and run when all I needed was the truth

    To me it is about how your friends are turning their back on you well all you are looking now is for a true friendship, i mean since everyone seems to be leaving.

    But that's how it's got to be
    It's coming down to nothing more than apathy

    Now all your friends are liek ignoring you, yeah they might say hey to you but it's nothing like before.

    I'd rather run the other way than stay and see
    The smoke and who's still standing when it clears

    You are lost and scared and would much rather just go away, than stay and see who stays as your friend when everything is over, when they stop being crap to you.

    (i can relate it to what is happening to me right now, i recently started university and i have my group of friends all the prep guys and stuff. Last semester was a crap to me i failed almost every subject, so this semester i decided to hang less with em and focus in school, at the same time i met this guy who they don't really like because he is a nerd and not at the same economic level as them and i'm dating him, so my friends are kinda turning their back on me and try to be nice but if i'm around this guy they won't even come close. so i'd much rather just go away and find new friends thatn staying there waiting for them to accept new me and new me with him)

    Everyone knows I'm in
    Over my head
    With eight seconds left in overtime
    She's on your mind

    everyone knows i'm in, like i'm up to stay with him and it goes around my head cuz i keep thinking about losing a friendship or losing this guy. with 8 secs it's like i have just a little time to decide cuz if things keep going like this i can choose my friends or choose him. and of course he's always on my mind.

    Let's rearrange
    I wish you were a stranger I could disengage

    like sometimes i wish he didn't mean anything to me so i could just go away and get my "fun" life back

    Say that we agree and then never change
    Soften a bit until we all just get along

    like i wish my friends and myself we'd all agree and we could just get along including him.

    But that's disregard
    Find another friend and you discard

    but that won't happen apparently, so i can find new friends or discard him.

    As you lose the argument in a cable car
    Hanging above as the canyon comes between

    well of course all this stuff has caused us to be fighting and i think it's like when you are taking a big risk okay you lose the argument and then you don't know what happen you don't know if he'll leave and you're just waiting for whatever may come.

    Everyone knows I'm in
    Over my head
    With eight seconds left in overtime
    She's on your mind

    And suddenly I become a part of your past
    I'm becoming the part that don't last
    I'm losing you and its effortless

    and out of nowhere at it seems to be happening right now to me he's getting tired of this and i'm afraid to just become a part of his past and feels like i'm losong him but it's effortless no matter what i can't choose between him and my friends

    Without a sound we lose sight of the ground
    In the throw around
    Never thought that you wanted to bring it down
    I won't let it go down till we torch it ourselves

    and then you find yourself lost you don't even know where you are at, and i thought he'd be the one to who'd stay or want to stay not this fight about ending us or nor. but i won't give cuz i won't let my friends and that pressure decide if we're going to end it's going to be because of us.

    Everyone knows I'm in
    Over my head
    With eight seconds left in overtime
    She's on your mind
    Flag villalonnon January 29, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Yeah it's about his relationship with his brother. Thats what the experts tell me ha...(thats a joke I just researched it a lot) snowpatrolgarylover posted a great explanation of it.
    Flag Gabesgirl4on November 20, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:When He says:

    I never knew that everything was falling through: He never knew that love could be so hard.

    Everyone I knew was waiting on a cue to turn and run: He doesn't want to go through the same break-ups as all the others.

    When all I needed was the truth: He's looking for a the true meaning of love; a deeper love that lasts.

    But that's how it's gotta be: People are not perfect and always cheapen love.

    It's coming down to nothing more than apathy: People are abusing the word love and leaving it w/o meaning or feeling.

    I'd rather run the other way: He doesn't want to be with the one he thinks he loves because it might end like all the others did. Yet he still stays and holds onto the hope that they might one day "be".

    Than stay and see the smoke and who's still standing when it clears: He's rather run away from the scarey love than have nothing in the end.

    Everyone knows I'm in over my head with eight seconds left in overtime she's on your mind: When he's running out of time, he can only think of her. She is the most important thing to him and he doesn't want to let her go but he's still afraid of getting hurt. He feels like it's obvious. But does she know?

    Let's rearrange: Let's fix it. Agree to be together.

    I wish you were a stranger I could disengage: I wish we could start over. I wish I could be free from all the hurt of not having you.

    Say that we agree and then never change: I wish we felt the same and could always love each other.

    Soften a bit until we all just get alone: He wishes love for everyone. That everyone finds love.

    let's disregard: But no, it can't be that way because people are again, not perfect.

    Find another friend and you discard: Either you get cheated on or just plain abandoned by someone you care about.

    As you lose the argument in a cable car: People don't find "perfection" in a relationship so they argue.

    Hanging above as a canyon comes between: People can't solve problems bigger than themselves so they break-up to go find that "perfect" person that doesn't exist...and the cycle goes on.

    Everyone knows I'm in over my Head with eight seconds left in overtime she's on your mind: I'm crazy to want a true love that I know might hurt me, yet I still yearn for that person and think about them all the time. Your life is running out and you don't want to die alone, but you are torn because you don't want to get burned by that love.

    And suddenly I've become part of the past. I'm becoming the part that don't last: I thought I'd have more chances to have you, but they have left me.

    I'm losing you and it's effortless: I didn't try hard enough to get you when I had the chance and you slipped away through time right before my eyes.

    Without a sound we lose sight of the ground in the throw around: You came into my life so subtly and my life will never be the same. Almost as if you were a tackle I was not expecting, and I came out injured.

    Never thought that you wanted to bring it down: Even though you might move on and forget about me...

    I won't let it go down till we torch it ourselves:...I have to see you again and clear the air with you. I can't let you go until I know it's nothing...

    And everyone knows I'm in over my head with eight seconds left in overtime she's on your mind: I'm crazy to still think about you all the time even though you aren't even in my life anymore. I feel like everyone can see that we are meant to be but we are too afraid of hurting each other to make a move. But it hurts more to be away from one another.

    In over my head: This whole thing is crazy, but I still love you.




    Flag aswindcoolon October 09, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I think this song can apply to any type of relationship, whether it be just friends or romantic, or whatever.

    The first verse makes me think that this person reached out to someone or multiple someones only to be denied, and now he's questioning who is really there for him.

    The chorus implies he is "drowning" in a metaphorical sense, and people notice. He regrets not saying something or doing something in regards to his significant other and his chance of correcting the past is dwindling, hence "eight seconds left in overtime".

    The rest of the song shows that this significant other was all ready and willing to move on, however, as the narrator becomes "part of her past."

    Your basic story of one who moves on while the other doesn't want to let go and his struggle to salvage it.
    "I'm losing you and it's effortless."
    Flag Ulyangon October 01, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I believe this song is about a guy who spends a lot of time with his girlfriend, and forgets about his best friend. (Which is probably a girl)

    "I wish you were a stranger I could disengage, just say that we agree and then never change," "You find another friend and you discard,"
    "And suddenly I become part of your past, I'm becoming the part that don't last. I'm losing you and it's efforless,"
    "The smoke who's standing when it clears,"

    There's a few key parts that show my interpretation.
    Flag ASwimmerThatLovesMusicon August 12, 2011   Link

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