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.
Washed up on shore
Washed up on shore
I'd like to live beneath the dirt
A tiny space to move and breathe is all that I would ever need
I want to live beneath the dirt
Where I'd be free from push and shove like all those swarming up above
Beneath your heals I'll spend my time
Shout your name into the wind
I'll wiggle in the earth and dew
Shout your name into the wind
And sometimes I will think of you
Shout your name into the wind
And if you ever think of me
Kneel down and kiss the earth
And show me what this thought is worth
I'll never hear your voice again
Shout your name into the wind
Shout your name into the wind
Shout your name into the wind
Shout your name into the wind
Shout your name into the wind
Shout your name into the wind
Shout your name into the wind
Shout your name into the wind
Washed up on shore
I'd like to live beneath the dirt
A tiny space to move and breathe is all that I would ever need
I want to live beneath the dirt
Where I'd be free from push and shove like all those swarming up above
Beneath your heals I'll spend my time
Shout your name into the wind
I'll wiggle in the earth and dew
Shout your name into the wind
And sometimes I will think of you
Shout your name into the wind
And if you ever think of me
Kneel down and kiss the earth
And show me what this thought is worth
I'll never hear your voice again
Shout your name into the wind
Shout your name into the wind
Shout your name into the wind
Shout your name into the wind
Shout your name into the wind
Shout your name into the wind
Shout your name into the wind
Shout your name into the wind
Lyrics submitted by scubasheteve
Dirt Lyrics as written by Tom Marshall Scott Herman
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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this song makes me want to curl up into a ball and snuggle in my sleeping bag... hmmm...
I had this song up as an away message earlier, and my friend IMed me and asked me if this meant I wanted to be dead...I hadn't thought of this song in that way, but it kinda works...either way though, it's still one of my favorite bittersweet love songs
i was just thinking the same thing... not so much a want to be dead, but expressing no fear of death.
i think this song is about death and how you shudn't be afraid of it. Ok here's my story, the first time i heard this song i secided that i wantit played at my funeral,wierd you might thimk but i thnk it's perfect. It about how you shouldn't be afreaid of death and that maye it's better than life actually i. " Where I'd be free from push and shove like all those swarming up above" knda depicts life negativly. Anyway it's a kick ass song!!
exactly
exactly
i love this song, i also think its about not being afraid of death.. but accepting it and being out of the 'push and shove' but the "i'll never hear your voice again" is sad. gotta love phish
Interesting about the funeral thing... It seems like death is the most likely... but it could just be about isolation, being at complete peace with oneself by living alone and away from "push and shove" and not really being a member of a community or anything... just existing while everyone else keeps the world running aka "beneath their heels i'll spend my time"
lindyswingster the exact same thing happened to me. i think that the lyrics appear to be more about death then the song because it has such a peaceful tune
I've always thought it was more about living like a bug, beneath the dirt. living so peaceful, no worries. and the memories people have of you when you've gone to live peacefully alone.