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.
Wake up
You're gettin' high on your own supply
Oh, baby, you're still alive when you could've died, oh
The world is not around because of you
You know I'm not around because of you
You've got a mouthful of diamonds
And a pocketful of secrets
I know you're never telling anyone
Because the patterns they control your mind
Those patterns take away my time
Hello, goodbye
Wasted
You tell the truth when you could've lied
And troubles are on the rise 'cause you're in disguise, oh
And if it isn't me
Then pack your bags and leave
I wish I could believe blue devils won't take you back
Out to the salty sea
You've got a mouthful of diamonds
And a pocketful of secrets
I know you're never telling anyone
Because the patterns they control your mind
Those patterns take away my time
Hello,
Goodbye
I wish I could believe
You're gettin' high on your own supply
Oh, baby, you're still alive when you could've died, oh
The world is not around because of you
You know I'm not around because of you
You've got a mouthful of diamonds
And a pocketful of secrets
I know you're never telling anyone
Because the patterns they control your mind
Those patterns take away my time
Hello, goodbye
Wasted
You tell the truth when you could've lied
And troubles are on the rise 'cause you're in disguise, oh
And if it isn't me
Then pack your bags and leave
I wish I could believe blue devils won't take you back
Out to the salty sea
You've got a mouthful of diamonds
And a pocketful of secrets
I know you're never telling anyone
Because the patterns they control your mind
Those patterns take away my time
Hello,
Goodbye
I wish I could believe
Lyrics submitted by pachucasunrise, edited by matt104629, designedbywire
Mouthful of Diamonds Lyrics as written by Joshua Carter
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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.”
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First let me just say, I saw them do this song live in LA, and it was like hearing music for the first time. Absolutely amazing.
I think this song is about loosing someone to themselves. Like she's tired everything she could do for this other person but knows that it's not going to work because they are so wrapped up in there own issues. And she doesn't want it to be like this but she has no other choice.
just found the song at Starbucks today, stack of the itunes cards hiding in the corner which looked like they were put off to the side cause someone spilled coffee or something on them.... sad, because the song does sound amazing and the lyrics are awesome.<br /> <br /> Especially the "wasted you tell the truth and you could've lied" which is soo true. Because you tend to say whats on your mind and the truth when your wasted.<br /> <br /> great song..recommend it to everyone.
FYI, lyrics correction...
you tell the truth when you could've lied and troubles are on the rise cause you're in disguise
this song is definitely about a failing relationship. but it can be interpreted in many different ways. in my opinion, this song is most likely about a lover who is more in love with a certain drug than with the person who is singing this. the girl singing is smart, and she realizes this. "wake up you're getting high on your own supply" well, this is pretty self explanatory. the guy is literally getting high on his own supply of drugs. however, it can also be interpreted to mean that he doesn't even see what's going on around him. he has himself built up to greatness in his mind when that's not how he is in reality "oh baby you're still alive when you could've died" this line could mean a number of things. it could mean simply be grateful for what you have. you're still alive when, like everyone, you could have easily died hundreds of times. it could mean look at us, i'm still with you when i could have left you. or even, if he's on drugs, he wouldn't literally still be awake had he not taken them. he would be out. "the world is not around because of you you know i'm not around because of you" sounds like he's totally conceited and he just thinks he is the center of the universe. guys can get like this, when they are taking advantage of a girl. "you've got a mouthful of diamonds and a pocketful of secrets" mouthful of diamonds could either mean: mouthful of drugs, mouthful of harmful words (diamonds being seen as sharp, like daggers) or a mouthful of promises that she knows he doesn't mean. pocketful of secrets: literally a pocketful of drugs. maybe he is cheating on her or just in general lying to her and his pocket is chock full of secrets. you can't see what's in someone's pocket until they pull it out. you can see how large the pocket is, so she can see that there are a lot of secrets, but she doesn't know exactly what they are. "i know you're never telling anyone because the patterns they control your mind these patterns take away my time hello, goodbye" these lines are absolutely brilliant and my favorite from the song. like anyone with an addiction, that said addiction is all the person thinks about. it consumes their mind, it controls them. it is too hard to reason with someone with an addiction. they cannot see why anything is wrong. it is nearly impossible to eradicate it from their mind. it is too stressful, time consuming etc. for the girl to try to cure this guy. you can tell she loves him and this is pained, but there is nothing wrong with her like there is with him...she is being smart and realizing that she does not need to burden her own life with his problems. she knows that he is bad for him and she is finally doing something about it. "wasted, you tell the truth when you could have lied troubles are on the rise cause you're in disguise" the substance that the guy is most dependent on is actually his worst enemy. when he's wasted, he tells the girl all these things that he wouldn't normally. perhaps he explodes with harmful words, releasing his "mouthful of diamonds" and he reveals his "pocketful of secrets". troubles are on the rise because this is what happens when he is intoxicated, or in disguise. "and if it isn't me then pack your bags and leave i wish i could believe the devils won't take you back out to the salty seas" by her saying "if it isn't me" i think she either means that he has another lover, or that he is picking the drugs over her. she wishes she could believe that this is just a phase, or that he will change for her, but she's seen it enough times to know that he's not going to. the devils line is also brilliant. awesome song. so meaningful. so glad my friend introduced it to me.
This song is about two different kinds of beings that once had a connection.She lives inthe light and speaks truth and he lives in the dark and constantly lies.She obviously cares about him ,and knows him more than he could ever imagine.<br /> <br /> wake up you're getting high on your own supply<br /> He is obviously an addict and i think that at the time the girl singing the song to him , was also caught up in that world trying to escape.She knows him well enought to know that he uses his own 'stuff.<br /> <br /> oh baby you're still alive when you could've died<br /> This guy is not only a drug user but he had a mental condition.<br /> Because of his drug use and his mental condition , he should be dead.<br /> <br /> the world is not round because of you<br /> you know i'm not around because of you<br /> <br /> He is obviously a narcissist who only craes about himself and using or so it seems.<br /> I think he drove her away because she couldnt handle him ,in his mind they dont have much in common.I also think he is so involve in his own reality or so it seems that he dosent care much about anything , that a girl like her has to say , i mean she dosent wanna be part of it she wants to go.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> you've got a mouthful of diamonds<br /> Now This girl is convinced she knows who this guy really is , drugs or no drugs.I think this line means that everything that comes out of his mouth is what a diamond is .Diamonds are hard and stiff diamonds repel water but accept wax or grease, so i think this guy speaks lies and says filthy things to this girl , but her being a girl sees diamonds as something beautiful , i think it all depends on how you interprate it.This girl believes his lies or pretends to when she is infront of him.Because he is so direct .<br /> Pocket fullof secret<br /> I think this guy has so many secrets , that go beyond what it seems, I think he has all kinds of secrets, and he carries them in his pocket because he is a careless druggie.<br /> <br /> <br /> i know you're never telling anyone<br /> because the patterns they control your mind<br /> I think that the patterns are everything not only his patterns with using but i think this girl thinks this guy is smarter ,than what he gives off to be , I think she is talking abou the patterns of the universe and how thats all he thinks about. Since shes not one of his kind those patterns take away her time, with him .<br /> <br /> Hello.goodbye<br /> Ibelieve their relationship was very short,yet meaningful or atleats life changing. She saw him and had to say goodbye because she knows that he knows , that he is the only one that can change himslef.<br /> <br /> wasted you tell the truth when you could've lied<br /> I think this guy tells her the truth about them when he is wasted,i also she might be slightly delusional or maybe they are just living in two different worlds.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> troubles are on the rise cause you're in disguise<br /> I think this girl is very wise soul, and she thinks he is magical like her maybe shes just idealzing him, but shes warning him , she thinks he is way more than the drugs .She knows he is disguising himself because of the patterns.He is lost in the dark.<br /> <br /> and if it isn't me then pack your bags and leave<br /> i wish i could believe<br /> the devils won't take you back out to the salty seas<br /> <br /> I think that at the time she was singing, this to him she was still lost and confuse in his dark world were she dosent belong.I think this girl things hse is his savior but he is not ready to go with her so ,He obviusly chooses other lovers and the drugs.<br /> <br /> <br /> This songs is awesome , and this is just my personal version of what it means.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
DONT COMPROMISE YOUR GIRLFRIEND FOR DRUGS
"wake up you're getting high on your own supply" - obviously talking about the guy taking drugs. "oh baby you're still alive when you could've died the world is not round because of you you know i'm not around because of you" - He is loosing everything and risking his own life for drugs.
"you've got a mouthful of diamonds" - diamonds could be referring to LSD but it could also be a metaphor. The diamonds are basically things he would tell her to sound like he has it all together on the outside, but deep down hes got a pocketful of secrets.
and a pocketful of secrets "i know you're never telling anyone because the patterns they control your mind" - Patterns - LSD those patterns take away my time hello, goodbye
wasted you tell the truth when you could've lied troubles are on the rise cause you're in disguise "and if it isn't me then pack your bags and leave" - She wants him gone if he keeps choosing drugs over her. "i wish i could believe the devils won't take you back out to the salty seas" - She wishes he wouldnt get sucked into that state of mind.
you've got a mouthful of diamonds and a pocketful of secrets i know you're never telling anyone because the patterns they control your mind those patterns take away my time hello, goodbye
i wish i could believe
can't get enough of this song!
anyways..i think it's about an abusive relationship, where the girl's boyfriend is a drug addict or has some serious violent tendencies. the boyfriend kept telling the girl that he loves her and that he's going to change, knowing that wasn't true, she got fed up and left.
what made you think of violent tendencies? why violent?
I am just getting out of an abusive relationship. My partner was a drug addict and a liar. This is exactly how I interpret this song because it rings so true to my current situation.
I don't think the songs is about LSD,it could be, but I think it's about a relationship, a very deep loving relationship on the girls end, and a shallow one on the other. A mouthful of diamonds... all the good things he tells her from his mouth, he loves her, he wants to spend his life with her, the girls getting high on her own supply, only the feelings she has. The guy is shallow and a liar, he keeps his secrets in his pockets and wears his mouthful of diamonds telling the girl what she wants to hear and when he was wasted he told her what he did, he wasn't in disguise anymore, and the girl wishes the devils won't take him back, she wishes he would stay true to his word that he is quitting drugs, or not going to cheat on her anymore but she knows it will happen.
Come on people. Watch the music video. This group is singing about pyschedelic substances. The mouthful of diamonds refers to a mouthful of LSD (remember Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds?). The pocket full of secrets is the attendant schizophrenic paranoia. The patterns that control his mind and make him a megalomaniac are the effects of the hallucinogen. She feels left out of his trippy world.
Seriously, whatsup with everyone? It's so clear its about LSD. Has no one seen the music video?
Good call. The "hello, goodbye" absolutely cements the Beatles reference. <br /> <br /> This is a really great song. I can put it on repeat pretty much indefinitely.
Oh and I should say that non-drug interpretations are also valid, just as they are for Beatles songs...but that doesn't mean the drug references aren't there. It's art, it works on many levels.
Awesome Song.
great song!
Music works for whatever reason you give it; it's all how you feel it. But, the writer of the song did state in an interview that it was written about a relationship gone wrong. He didn't want to give any more information than that, stating that it was personal.