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.
This is the starting of my greatest fear
I'm all packed up, getting out of here
But then you call and tell me not to go
that i'm the one who put the rock n roll
in your life
This is the starting of a brand new day
I never liked this town much anyway
I need this city like I need the rain
I know that somewhere there's a north bound train
Oh I'll make it without you...
make it without you
and though my body's laying here,
It's my mouth that must be lying now
Ahhh ahhhhhhh
Ahhh ahhhhhhh
This is the starting of my fall from grace
My self esteem, oh It's seen better days
But you know I'll never let this go to waste
I'll keep this memory on the map I trace...
back to home
My friends go out, but I've been staying in
I know I should but that's the way it's been
I never cared much for the taste of gin
I still don't now, oh, but it's been helpin
Oh I'll make it without you,
in my life
Oh I'll make it without you
and though my bodies laying here,
it's my mouth that must be lying now
I'm all packed up, getting out of here
But then you call and tell me not to go
that i'm the one who put the rock n roll
in your life
This is the starting of a brand new day
I never liked this town much anyway
I need this city like I need the rain
I know that somewhere there's a north bound train
Oh I'll make it without you...
make it without you
and though my body's laying here,
It's my mouth that must be lying now
Ahhh ahhhhhhh
Ahhh ahhhhhhh
This is the starting of my fall from grace
My self esteem, oh It's seen better days
But you know I'll never let this go to waste
I'll keep this memory on the map I trace...
back to home
My friends go out, but I've been staying in
I know I should but that's the way it's been
I never cared much for the taste of gin
I still don't now, oh, but it's been helpin
Oh I'll make it without you,
in my life
Oh I'll make it without you
and though my bodies laying here,
it's my mouth that must be lying now
Lyrics submitted by SMUSER17390057, edited by DancerHeart
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That's extremely sad but very beautiful as well. There is that melancholic feeling to it, as if a part of him isn't sure if he will be able to make it without the other person.
this is my life right now. just moved out... it's tough, but andrew belle was able to accurately describe how i've been feeling.
I hear you beautifulxgoodbye.
Left Portland, OR to go back to PHX, AZ.
Got in my 04 golf..sold a lot of stuff, packed as little as I could. left when it was "raining".
I lik to say to myself that it wasnt a girl wreaking me which made me leave. Yet its almost three mnths now...and its all "static" now. My "memory"..idk.. what I meant to her anymore is. I thought she a different from the rest..but ...life goes on.
but it gets better..and "oh i'll make it without you."
i am starting to be really happy now. Thanks AB. Thanks heart. pace!
RL
Moving on. Forgetting someone that isn't supposed to be in your life.
There is hope. You will move on. You just have to take the first step.
The lyrics sort of remind me of Mary Gauthier's song "Empty Spaces" on her Mercy Now album. "Every day I wake up and wonder, how'll I make it on my own? Silly me, what was I thinking, I was on my own all along."
This is pretty long but, the song starts out with: "This is the starting of my greatest fear" So obviously this is something he was always afraid of happening
"All packed up, getting out of here" He's leaving town/a relationship "This is the starting of a brand new day" He's getting ready for a brand new life elsewhere
"I need this city like I need the rain" Rain is symbolical for pain in this phrase "I know that somewhere there's a north bound train" Somewhere, things will be better
"Oh, I'll make it without you...make it without you" He's trying to make a point that he doesn't need his significant other to be successful in life, but he almost doesn't believe it
"Though my body's laying here, It's my mouth that must be lying now" He's laying wounded emotionally, he thinks he'll make it without anyone or their help, but he knows he won't
"This is the starting of my fall from grace" Things were really good at first "Self esteem, oh it's seen better days" He's not sure of himself
"But you know I'll never let this go to waste" He won't let his experience in this relationship be lost
"My friends go out, but I've been staying in" He may be falling into a depression state "I know I should, but that's the way it's been" He may have never been a very outgoing person in the first place "I never cared much for the taste of gin. Still don't now, but it's been helpin'" He's drinking in order to get himself through this hard time
"Oh I'll make it without you... in my life" He'll make it without his friends - they may have caused some depression and drinking as well
"Oh I'll make it without you" He almost believes he will... "And though my body's laying here, It's my mouth that must be lying now" but he knows it's still a lie
It repeats those two lines a couple times trying to fully convince himself that he'll make it without anyone from his town, but he knows that no many how much he tries, it's still a lie
So to wrap it up, people will come and go from your life, but you'll never forget them. And perhaps you wouldn't have made it without them and what they did because they made you stronger from the ups and downs - so without them you wouldn't have been wiser and therefor, wouldn't make it.
A sad song about being in a loveless relationship. He knows he can't ever get what he wants from her...love..but he's scared to walk away. I know this feeling oh so well.
Hi all,
I just got dumped by reading this song's lyrics on my boyfriend's blog.
Nice. I could have had an email telling me so but that wouldn't be artistic enough I guess.
And he never put any "rock n' roll" in my life, so it's not very accurate.
If he wants his freedom, here it is. If he prefers staying at work all the time being used, it's his choice. I wonder if he'd keep his so-called fiends if he'd stopped covering their holidays all the time... Or paying them taxi rides...
Anyway, I don't like this song. But it's one of the very few songs my ex likes whose lyrics make sense. Sad it says that.
I might miss him a day or two. Then I'll be too busy sorting out my life to think about it.
Oh yeah, I'll make it without you. I'll make it BIG without you. And then I'll look down on you.