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.
Oh, we promise pretty things
And we pledge with diamond rings
We profess undying love
But does that word hold any weight
When we reserve the right to break
Any vow that draws our blood
Our word is so faint and feeble
Broken by the slightest breeze or breath
Our hearts are so deceitful
Sick and filled with lies that lead to death
We are cowards and thieves
Will we never turn to grieve the damage done
Never see, never quake with rage at what we have become
What we have become
Yeah we get down on one knee
O, we play at chivalry
But we do not count the cost
We say, "On me you can depend,
I will be there 'till the end"
Though we will not bear the cross
Our word is so faint and feeble
Broken by the slightest breeze or breath
Our hearts are so deceitful
Sick and filled with lies that lead to death
We are cowards and thieves
Will we never turn to grieve the damage done
Never see, never quake with rage at what we have become
What we have become
We are cowards and thieves
Will we never turn to grieve the damage done
Never see, never quake with rage at what we have become
What we have become
We are cowards and thieves
Will we never turn to grieve the damage done
Never see, never quake with rage at what we have become
What we have become
And we pledge with diamond rings
We profess undying love
But does that word hold any weight
When we reserve the right to break
Any vow that draws our blood
Our word is so faint and feeble
Broken by the slightest breeze or breath
Our hearts are so deceitful
Sick and filled with lies that lead to death
We are cowards and thieves
Will we never turn to grieve the damage done
Never see, never quake with rage at what we have become
What we have become
Yeah we get down on one knee
O, we play at chivalry
But we do not count the cost
We say, "On me you can depend,
I will be there 'till the end"
Though we will not bear the cross
Our word is so faint and feeble
Broken by the slightest breeze or breath
Our hearts are so deceitful
Sick and filled with lies that lead to death
We are cowards and thieves
Will we never turn to grieve the damage done
Never see, never quake with rage at what we have become
What we have become
We are cowards and thieves
Will we never turn to grieve the damage done
Never see, never quake with rage at what we have become
What we have become
We are cowards and thieves
Will we never turn to grieve the damage done
Never see, never quake with rage at what we have become
What we have become
Lyrics submitted by iamjackslameusername
Promises Lyrics as written by Edward Carrington Breckenridge Dustin Michael Kensrue
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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So you're the one who beat me to printing the lyrics on this site lol I finished it but songmeanings told me a song that had the same name was already being processed lol. Although considering there's a video with the lyrics I guess it doesn't matter much.
Oh but it does matter. We should still have a forum to discuss the songs meaning.
This one I feel is pretty straight forward. Dustin is talking about divorce. It sounds like he is angry about how the institution of marriage is so easily tossed aside today."Our words are so faint and feeble broken by the slight breeze or breathe." I think it is a shame that we as a society do not put more weight onto marriage and say so quickly it would be better to just cut our losses and start anew.
On another note, this song rocks. If this is any indication of what the album will sound like then we can all expect another amazing record from Thrice.
Yeah It's an amazing song. I just meant that since thrice actually made a video with lyrics to the song themselves, it was kinda.....redundant I guess? But the song is definitely about marriage and "the weight" (see what I did there?) of our words.
Yep. Going further with "The Weight" from Beggars. Dustin is showing his disgust with society and how little is put into our promise to our significant others.