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.
well you're not brave if you still keep the letters
and you're not sane if you don't wanna get better
and you're not drunk if you can't stay in your lane, no
well you're not awake but you haven't been sleeping
and you hate god but you don't believe in him
and you're not scared but you've still got your eyes closed
the sky explodes
and only you know
the sky explodes
and only you know
the sky explodes
and only you know
well it's not fixed if you love it broken
and you're cell phone's at the bottom of the ocean
and you're not drunk if you can't stay in your lane, no
well you're not brave and you're making a lane shift
you're not lost but you're missing your exit
and you're not scared but you've still got your eyes closed
i want you to worry when i don't call you back
i want you to worry when i don't call you back
the sky explodes
and only you know
and you're not sane if you don't wanna get better
and you're not drunk if you can't stay in your lane, no
well you're not awake but you haven't been sleeping
and you hate god but you don't believe in him
and you're not scared but you've still got your eyes closed
the sky explodes
and only you know
the sky explodes
and only you know
the sky explodes
and only you know
well it's not fixed if you love it broken
and you're cell phone's at the bottom of the ocean
and you're not drunk if you can't stay in your lane, no
well you're not brave and you're making a lane shift
you're not lost but you're missing your exit
and you're not scared but you've still got your eyes closed
i want you to worry when i don't call you back
i want you to worry when i don't call you back
the sky explodes
and only you know
Lyrics submitted by lowellisdynamite, edited by kizzajj
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Here are the actual lyrics: :) (There are some minor errors in the ones posted)
Well you're not brave if you still keep the letters And you're not sane if you don't want it better And you're not drunk if you can stay in your lane, no Well you're not awake but you haven't been sleeping And you hate god but you don't believe in Him And then you're not scared but you've still got your eyes closed
The sky explodes And only you know (x3)
Well it's not fixed if you love it broken And your cell phone's at the bottom of the ocean And you're not drunk if you can stay in your lane, no Well you're not brave and you're making a lane shift You're not lost but you're missing your exit And you're not scared but you've still got your eyes closed
I want you to worry when I don't call you back (x2)
The sky explodes And only you know
(x4)
And only you know (x3)
I think riley490's interpretation is correct. I love the strings at the end, but the intro is a bit long imho. Reminds me what one of my friends wrote in a letter: "You're not lost if you're still moving; you're not a coward if you keep hoping; and I'll always remember you young and free and beautiful, I'm the portrait to your Dorian Gray. So live and love and die the way you want to, because to me you'll always be just like you were last night." I was 14, she was 19, and she died a few days later in a car crash. I panicked when she didn't call back until they told me what happened. This song made me cry the first time I heard it, it's beautiful.
To clear up the one line, this is what I think...
"And you're not drunk if you can't stay in your lane"
It is like all the other lines; just because you can't stay in one lane, doesn't necessarily mean you're drunk. Like, just because you missed your exit, doesn't necessarily mean it's because you're lost...
I also think that the song is not about death. In fact, it appears to be about someone's life - how they aren't living with the best they COULD be getting.
Anyone agree?
i loooove this song. it fucking rocks. the age of rockets = cool.
This is a beautiful song, really fantastic. I love the way the lyrics make the background music float, sort of.
"well you're not brave and you're making a rain shift"
it's suppose to be "lane shift"
but yeah, definitely a great song
Harry Potter
"and you're not drunk if you can't stay in your lane"
shouldn't it be "if you can stay in your lane"?
i adore this song though.
this song is about death. i've heard theories that it is about voldemort, or about harry potter himself, but i don't think it is specific to either of them. the title merely suggests death, because it is a killing curse.
if you look at the lyrics they make sense.
the middle of life and death.