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.
Cave-o-sapien, you were made for the breaking of my back
And cave-o-sapien, you were made for the breaking of my back
As I carried you past quiet houses
Kicking through the roses in the yard
I spied the wildflower kisses on your neck
I saw the garden had been trampled past repair
Oh, cave-o-sapien
And you look like the sunrise
Purple, lemon, baby blue, and gold
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
But I knew it sounded bad when you said
"No regrets" and then said nothing more
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
And while you're digging deep
Into the smoke of those two sticks
You keep rubbing together
I keep thinking about how bad it's gonna burn
And all the people I've loved back home
Oh, I've loved and love
That you turned on
People just offering shelter from the wind
So bow your head into the wind
My cave-o-sapien
I had a vision of a gorilla
And he was a killer, a killer
Oh, cave-o-sapien
Oh, cave-o-sapien
Cave-o-cave-o-sapien
Oh, cave-o, cave-o, cave-o
Ah, ah, ah, ah, all alone
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, oh
And in fields of stone, you
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, oh
You're not the sunrise
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, oh
You're just alone
I've got you 'til you're gone
I've got you 'til you're gone
'Til you're gone, I got you
I've got you 'til you're gone
I've got you 'til you're gone
'Til you're gone, I got you
I've got you 'til you're gone
I've got you 'til you're gone
'Til you're gone, I got you
I've got you 'til you're gone
I've got you 'til you're gone
'Til you're gone, I got you
And cave-o-sapien, you were made for the breaking of my back
As I carried you past quiet houses
Kicking through the roses in the yard
I spied the wildflower kisses on your neck
I saw the garden had been trampled past repair
Oh, cave-o-sapien
And you look like the sunrise
Purple, lemon, baby blue, and gold
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
But I knew it sounded bad when you said
"No regrets" and then said nothing more
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
And while you're digging deep
Into the smoke of those two sticks
You keep rubbing together
I keep thinking about how bad it's gonna burn
And all the people I've loved back home
Oh, I've loved and love
That you turned on
People just offering shelter from the wind
So bow your head into the wind
My cave-o-sapien
I had a vision of a gorilla
And he was a killer, a killer
Oh, cave-o-sapien
Oh, cave-o-sapien
Cave-o-cave-o-sapien
Oh, cave-o, cave-o, cave-o
Ah, ah, ah, ah, all alone
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, oh
And in fields of stone, you
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, oh
You're not the sunrise
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, oh
You're just alone
I've got you 'til you're gone
I've got you 'til you're gone
'Til you're gone, I got you
I've got you 'til you're gone
I've got you 'til you're gone
'Til you're gone, I got you
I've got you 'til you're gone
I've got you 'til you're gone
'Til you're gone, I got you
I've got you 'til you're gone
I've got you 'til you're gone
'Til you're gone, I got you
Lyrics submitted by myballetflats
Cave-O-Sapien Lyrics as written by Dan Boeckner Arlen Thompson
Lyrics © THIRD SIDE MUSIC INC.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
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.
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Personally, I think it is "And while you're leaning deep..." It makes more sense, though it is hard to tell what he is saying there.
Best song on the album
spencer is clearly singing about a homosexual encounter. no not really. i think the sunrise colours, that seems like bruise colours? his imagery is too vivid. his songs are too good, that jerk!
Well, not too many different opinions on this one. Seems to me to be a view on a self destructive person. Someone who lives without a care in the world but is eventually gonna pay the price of the lifestyle they are living. Someone who doesnt hold relationships long because their behavior is fun to be around but gets old after a while. a moocher of sorts. Ide definitely like to see some more opinions on this one.<br />
Well, not too many different opinions on this one. Seems to me to be a view on a self destructive person. Someone who lives without a care in the world but is eventually gonna pay the price of the lifestyle they are living. Someone who doesnt hold relationships long because their behavior is fun to be around but gets old after a while. a moocher of sorts. Ide definitely like to see some more opinions on this one.<br />
of those two sticks
Well cave o sapien is a part of Spencer that doesnt make relationships a priority. Maybe a part of him that is like his father, or a runner. Spencer has that, and nothing else, until he lets cave-o go. Perhaps cave-o is the primitive part of man that would rather gather from a garden and trample it as oppossed to tending to one. Cave-O doesnt do commitment. I think this vision of masculinity was at a time attractive to Spencer, but he realizes that it leaves you alone. Sometimes men focus more on their purposes and devises than their relationships as well.