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.
Now the time has elapsed
It inevitably has come to pass
That I write for you at last
A song a rhyme
Oh to tell you the truth of it
I'm a little confused myself
Is it through memory's rose tinted glass
I have come to ask
Or is it a love that was meant to last
Through time itself
Proving us wrong all along
Shouldn't we be holding on
It's a silly thing really
That you shouldn't believe in
Nothing too complicated
Endlessly formulated
Foolish romantic ideals of love
Could there be such a thing
How could there be such a thing
As beautifully flawed
We'll make mistakes and then
Life is the art of learning to live with it
Through time
Thought you knew it
All along
You who are wiser than I
See it coming
See it coming
See it coming
Every time
How did you predict
The end of the world
When you can't see beyond
The end of your nose
Would you look at the life I chose
Baby it's you I need to tell it to
Maybe no other will ever do
Through time
Shouldn't we be holding on
Shouldn't we be holding on
(Baby no other would ever)
(Baby no other would ever)
Shouldn't we be holding on
(Baby no other would ever)
(Baby no other would ever)
Shouldn't we be holding on
(Baby no other would ever)
(Baby no other would ever)
Shouldn't we be holding on
(Baby no other would ever)
(Baby no other would ever do)
(Do)
Proving us wrong all along
Ideals of love
Fooling romantic
Ideals of love
Could there be such a thing
Could there be such a thing
Beautifully flawed
Ideals of love
It inevitably has come to pass
That I write for you at last
A song a rhyme
Oh to tell you the truth of it
I'm a little confused myself
Is it through memory's rose tinted glass
I have come to ask
Or is it a love that was meant to last
Through time itself
Proving us wrong all along
Shouldn't we be holding on
It's a silly thing really
That you shouldn't believe in
Nothing too complicated
Endlessly formulated
Foolish romantic ideals of love
Could there be such a thing
How could there be such a thing
As beautifully flawed
We'll make mistakes and then
Life is the art of learning to live with it
Through time
Thought you knew it
All along
You who are wiser than I
See it coming
See it coming
See it coming
Every time
How did you predict
The end of the world
When you can't see beyond
The end of your nose
Would you look at the life I chose
Baby it's you I need to tell it to
Maybe no other will ever do
Through time
Shouldn't we be holding on
Shouldn't we be holding on
(Baby no other would ever)
(Baby no other would ever)
Shouldn't we be holding on
(Baby no other would ever)
(Baby no other would ever)
Shouldn't we be holding on
(Baby no other would ever)
(Baby no other would ever)
Shouldn't we be holding on
(Baby no other would ever)
(Baby no other would ever do)
(Do)
Proving us wrong all along
Ideals of love
Fooling romantic
Ideals of love
Could there be such a thing
Could there be such a thing
Beautifully flawed
Ideals of love
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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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