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.
Send a heartbeat to
The void that cries through you
Relive the pictures that have come to pass
For now we stand alone
The world is lost and blown
And we are flesh and blood disintegrate
With no more to hate
Is it bright where you are
Have the people changed
Does it make you happy you're so strange
And in your darkest hour
I hold secrets flame
We can watch the world devoured in it's pain
Delivered from the blast
The last of a line of lasts
The pale princess of a palace cracked
And now the kingdom comes
Crashing down undone
And I am a master of a nothing place
Of recoil and grace
Is it bright where you are
Have the people changed
Does it make you happy you're so strange
And in your darkest hour
I hold secrets flame
We can watch the world devoured in it's pain
Time has stopped before us
The sky cannot ignore us
No one can separate us
For we are all that is left
The echo bounces off me
The shadow lost beside me
There's no more need to pretend
Cause now I can begin again
Is it bright where you are
Have the people changed
Does it make you happy you're so strange
And in your darkest hour
I hold secrets flame
We can watch the world devoured in it's pain
Strange
Strange
Strange
The void that cries through you
Relive the pictures that have come to pass
For now we stand alone
The world is lost and blown
And we are flesh and blood disintegrate
With no more to hate
Is it bright where you are
Have the people changed
Does it make you happy you're so strange
And in your darkest hour
I hold secrets flame
We can watch the world devoured in it's pain
Delivered from the blast
The last of a line of lasts
The pale princess of a palace cracked
And now the kingdom comes
Crashing down undone
And I am a master of a nothing place
Of recoil and grace
Is it bright where you are
Have the people changed
Does it make you happy you're so strange
And in your darkest hour
I hold secrets flame
We can watch the world devoured in it's pain
Time has stopped before us
The sky cannot ignore us
No one can separate us
For we are all that is left
The echo bounces off me
The shadow lost beside me
There's no more need to pretend
Cause now I can begin again
Is it bright where you are
Have the people changed
Does it make you happy you're so strange
And in your darkest hour
I hold secrets flame
We can watch the world devoured in it's pain
Strange
Strange
Strange
Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by AngelSwordAF
The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning Lyrics as written by William Patrick Corgan
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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“ I found myself going, 'I can't write a song about Batman, I'm in an alternative band.' And I thought, this is stupid, if I can write a song about Batman and it serves the purpose, which is to make it happen and connect with the movie, and connect with something that is unique and original, then, why not? For me, it was a great kind of artistic thing to do because it was very freeing. I wasn't talking about myself or trying to represent the Smashing Pumpkins. I was trying to represent Batman.”
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+1 to jambalaya-ham. It sounds very Batman:<br /> "For now we stand alone" = Batman, the last hope against the turmoil<br /> "Does it make you happy you're so strange?" = obvious; he IS<br /> "Is it bright where you are?" = Is it nice up there in the tower from which you judge the rest of us?<br /> "The last of a line of lasts" = a last in a line of heroes<br /> "The pale princess of a palace cracked" = I think, yes, referring to Freeze's wife<br /> <br /> Regardless what this song is about, Corgan can write some bl00dy blisteringly-good lyrics.<br /> <br /> Silent Thriller noted that "This could possibly be an apocalyptic view of the planet." and I agree, it does fit that, too, which is why I reckon it fits the more apocalyptic "Watchmen" than the rather dismal "B&R" movie.<br /> <br /> +1 to myenemyisnear: "I wanted to stand up and cheer when Nite Owl descended from his craft and hit the street."<br /> <br /> TOO RIGHT!! So much did I, as well as when Doctor Manhatten appears god-like amidst the crowd. If this movie sux, I will repeatedly slap them that made it.
"The pale princess of a palace cracked" could also be referring to the fact that Batman, as well as many other superheroes have something tragic in their past (Batman-his parents killed before his eyes)
This song rocks. It blew my mind when I first heard it. To me the corus is beautifully sad
To me the song is about death.. and what happens I'm really stoned so i might be completely wrong ;)
"Is it bright where you are?" (Is it bright, is there a heaven?) "And have the people changed?" (Are people normal now, are they nice? Not like the fuckers on earth) "Does it make you happy you're so strange?" (God, why do you have to be so secret.. confusing. Do you enjoy making people struggle to believe?) "And in your darkest hour, I hold secrets flame" (When I'm about to die, you will hold my deepest and darkest secrets above all else and judge them) "We can watch the world devoured in its pain" (I'm in eternal salvation.. look at the hell hole called life)
Fucking BEAUTIFUL song
I really like your interpretation.
@utzzzz I agree. By listening to this song, that's the impression that I get. I'm wondering if heaven does exist and if God is real, why is it hard to believe.
this is in the watchmen trailer link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1670081657 watch it its fscking amazing
the watchmen trailer FINALLY did this song justice. It was perfect in my opinion.
Yeah, this blew away the audience during the Watchmen trailer.
goes great with the watchmen trailer but i dont think either this one or the end is the beginning is the end are actually about Batman.
Ironically if you think about it, the meaning does come closer to an analogy of the watchmen or Plato's 'Republic'.
But I just think he's just singing about himself and how he doesnt understand his love interest or the world he's a part of.
Also i reckon it's "Does it make you happy? You're so strange." rather than "Does it make you happy that you're so strange"
Either way both of these song kick some musical fucking ass.
why specifically does the republic come to your mind? I can't see it, but I'd be interested in your reasons :)
Corgan did say that TEITBITE was about Batman, but whether these alternates are I don't know.
I love how the Watchmen teaser used the song, I felt like it fit perfectly. I was at the Dark Knight premiere when I saw it, and I wanted to stand up and cheer when Nite Owl descended from his craft and hit the street.
A great song about the feeling of being an outcast and about being strong in who you are and not letting 'normal' people define you.
i saw the trailer at Dark Knight too<br /> i find it kinda funny how TEITBITE is about batman, and TBITEITB probably has something to do with batman, and the Watchmen trailer was first played at the Dark Knight premier
This song was not made for Batman because they didnt write it for the movie. Its a song about the cruel side of life and describes the end of the world "THE SKY CAN NOT IGNORE US"=Pollution, "DELIVERED FROM THE BLAST"= Neuclear Bomb. "Is IT BRIGHT WHERE YOU ARE"=can u see the sun. "HAVE THE PEOPLE CHANGED"= people are a disease to this planet.
THE SLOWER VERSION OF THIS SONG IS THE BEST. I Fully understand why they made this.
These lyrics are WAY better than the original lyrics. The first ones are kind of awkward somehow.