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.
I did not take to analysis
So I had to make up my mind
And hold it for a while
I would not just leave you without a kiss
But I guess there must come a time
When there's no more tears to cry
Bees and snakes need homes, need homes
Barricades
It starts to feel like a barricade
To keep us away, to keep us away
And it kind of does
It starts to feel like a barricade
To keep us away, keep us away
I could not lean on the politics
'Cause I didn't want to train my eye
To hold so short a time
Also, I just don't know where the blind could lead the sightless
But I still like to witness
Thieves and snakes need homes, need homes
Barricades
It starts to feel like a barricade
To keep us away, to keep us away
It kind of does
It starts to feel like a barricade
To keep us away, keep us away
Full speed, half blind
Full tilt decline
We turn to past times
Full speed, half blind
You know us
You know us
What we solved was a matter of friction
(I'm sorry)
And the plan
(Say I'm sorry)
Sometimes it feels like a barricade
To keep us away, keep us away
It kind of does
How much fear can you fabricate
To keep us away? Keep us away?
You know us
Full speed, half blind
Full tilt decline
We turn to past times
Full speed, half blind
Full speed, half blind
Full tilt decline
On to old times
Full speed half blind
So I had to make up my mind
And hold it for a while
I would not just leave you without a kiss
But I guess there must come a time
When there's no more tears to cry
Bees and snakes need homes, need homes
Barricades
It starts to feel like a barricade
To keep us away, to keep us away
And it kind of does
It starts to feel like a barricade
To keep us away, keep us away
I could not lean on the politics
'Cause I didn't want to train my eye
To hold so short a time
Also, I just don't know where the blind could lead the sightless
But I still like to witness
Thieves and snakes need homes, need homes
Barricades
It starts to feel like a barricade
To keep us away, to keep us away
It kind of does
It starts to feel like a barricade
To keep us away, keep us away
Full speed, half blind
Full tilt decline
We turn to past times
Full speed, half blind
You know us
You know us
What we solved was a matter of friction
(I'm sorry)
And the plan
(Say I'm sorry)
Sometimes it feels like a barricade
To keep us away, keep us away
It kind of does
How much fear can you fabricate
To keep us away? Keep us away?
You know us
Full speed, half blind
Full tilt decline
We turn to past times
Full speed, half blind
Full speed, half blind
Full tilt decline
On to old times
Full speed half blind
Lyrics submitted by blackmantis, edited by erm2135, TheBronze
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.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
To me, the barricade is age and this song is about a cross-generational relationship. "How much fear can you fabricate" refers to societal taboos about such a relationship. Probably completely off-base to what Banks intended, but that's what it means to me.
haha possibly about him and helena?