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.
Coming down again, coming down again
Coming down again, coming down again
Share your thoughts, there's nothing you can hide
She was dying to survive
I was caught, oh, taken for a ride
She was showing no surprise
Coming down again, coming down again
Where are all my friends? Coming down again
Coming down again, coming down again
On the ground again, coming down again
Slipped my tongue in someone else's pie
Tasting better every time
He turned green and tried to make me cry
Being hungry, it ain't no crime
Coming down again, all my time's been spent
Coming down again
Coming down again (sky fall down again)
Coming down again (sky fall down again, sky fall down again)
Coming down again (sky fall down again)
Coming down again
Where are all my friends?
Coming down again, coming down again
Where are all my friends?
(Sky fall down again)
Coming down again (sky fall down again)
Coming down again (sky fall down again)
Coming down again
Coming down again
Where are all my friends
Coming down again
On the ground again
Coming down again, coming down again
Share your thoughts, there's nothing you can hide
She was dying to survive
I was caught, oh, taken for a ride
She was showing no surprise
Coming down again, coming down again
Where are all my friends? Coming down again
Coming down again, coming down again
On the ground again, coming down again
Slipped my tongue in someone else's pie
Tasting better every time
He turned green and tried to make me cry
Being hungry, it ain't no crime
Coming down again, all my time's been spent
Coming down again
Coming down again (sky fall down again)
Coming down again (sky fall down again, sky fall down again)
Coming down again (sky fall down again)
Coming down again
Where are all my friends?
Coming down again, coming down again
Where are all my friends?
(Sky fall down again)
Coming down again (sky fall down again)
Coming down again (sky fall down again)
Coming down again
Coming down again
Where are all my friends
Coming down again
On the ground again
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Coming Down Again Lyrics as written by Michael Jagger Keith Richards
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Now this one IS about heroin. So many idiots on here want to say every song by any band that ever did heroin is about heroin, then they ignore the ones that really are. This is during Keith's heaviest smack period. A haunting reminder of what life was for him at the time. I like it a lot.
Lovely backing vocals from Mick and a heartbreaking moment for Keith as he finally displays some vulnerability and admits his problems with smack. One of the better moments on the otherwise lukewarm Goats Head Soup.
wow, just broke out this cd today for the first time in a while... it is such a well done tune, i love taylor's background wah. to me the lyrics are mainly about drug use with romantic overtones of richard's woo-ing anita pallenberg from jones. the lyrics go "he turned green..", NOT "she", and i believe "he"=brian jones.
overlooked great song. never heard it before today, after 30+ years of listening to the Rolling Stones.
@orphan_yachts Wow how could you miss GOATSHEAD SOUP album in 30 years, so many good and rarely heard tracks on that album,
Hit me immediately as a dope song; "comin' down again" with that sad "well here we go, party's over and here comes the pain of hangin' again, time after time. But I'm an old ex-junkie so of course I'd read it that way. I realise there are the messin' with your mate's wife feelings in there too but hey,.. it's rock and roll and it means what you wish it to be, written by one of the masters of the art.
@Zorpho what a superb and concise explanation/ interpretation !
Ideal vs reality. What goes up, must come down. Brilliant.
I do not see any heroin in this song. I see a guy getting depressed by a girl thats taking him for granted. So he decides he is going to cheat on her. Yep, he sticks his tongue in someone else’s pie, so to speak. That gets her attention. She turns green with jealousy and starts to cry. He justifies it by noting that being hungry aint no crome. She’s the one that made him hungry with her indifference.