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.
(Even if we can't find heaven, heaven, heaven, heaven)
Hands, put your empty hands in mine
And scars, show me all the scars you hide
And hey, if your wings are broken
Please take mine so yours can open too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you
Oh, tears make kaleidoscopes in your eyes
And hurt, I know you're hurting, but so am I
And love, if your wings are broken
Borrow mine so yours can open too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we're breaking down, we can find a way to break through
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'll walk through Hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'll walk through Hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
Yeah, you're all I never knew I needed
And the heart, sometimes it's unclear why it's beating
And love, if your wings are broken
We can brave through those emotions too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you
And oh, truth, I guess truth is what you believe in
And faith, I think faith is having a reason
No, no, no, love, if your wings are broken
Borrow mine so yours can open too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we're breaking down, we can find a way to break through
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'll walk through Hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'll walk through Hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
I'll be your eyes 'til yours can shine
And I'll be your arms, I'll be your steady satellite
And when you can't rise
Well, I'll cry with you on hands and knees
'Cause I
I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we're breaking down, we can find a way to break through (come on)
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'll walk through Hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'll walk through Hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
Love, you're not alone
No, I'm gonna stand by you
(Even if we can't find heaven, heaven, heaven)
I'm gonna stand by you
Hands, put your empty hands in mine
And scars, show me all the scars you hide
And hey, if your wings are broken
Please take mine so yours can open too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you
Oh, tears make kaleidoscopes in your eyes
And hurt, I know you're hurting, but so am I
And love, if your wings are broken
Borrow mine so yours can open too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we're breaking down, we can find a way to break through
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'll walk through Hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'll walk through Hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
Yeah, you're all I never knew I needed
And the heart, sometimes it's unclear why it's beating
And love, if your wings are broken
We can brave through those emotions too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you
And oh, truth, I guess truth is what you believe in
And faith, I think faith is having a reason
No, no, no, love, if your wings are broken
Borrow mine so yours can open too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we're breaking down, we can find a way to break through
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'll walk through Hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'll walk through Hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
I'll be your eyes 'til yours can shine
And I'll be your arms, I'll be your steady satellite
And when you can't rise
Well, I'll cry with you on hands and knees
'Cause I
I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we're breaking down, we can find a way to break through (come on)
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'll walk through Hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'm gonna stand by you
Even if we can't find Heaven, I'll walk through Hell with you
Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you
Love, you're not alone
No, I'm gonna stand by you
(Even if we can't find heaven, heaven, heaven)
I'm gonna stand by you
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My interpretation of the song is from a friend/lover's point of view. The person singing the song is telling their significant other (with possible depression) that even in the darkest times, they will be there for them.
"Hands, put your empty hands in mine" The significant other is empty and can't feel anything.
"And scars, show me all the scars you hide" This line is pretty self explanatory: The significant other has wounds, either physical or mental, and the person singing knows that they are try to hide their pain.
"And hey, if your wings are broken please take mine so yours can open too" The significant other has given up all hope, so the singer is giving their "wings" or hope so that the significant other will "open their wings."
"And hurt, I know you're hurting, but so am I" The singer knows that the significant other is hurting, but the singer is struggling with their own problems, or because their friend/lover is sad and depressed, the singer feels pain that their significant other is hurting.
"Even if we're breaking down, we can find a way to break through" Even if they are both going through a difficult time, they will find a way to "break through" or find happiness again.
"Even if we can't find heaven, I'll walk through hell with you" Even if they can't find "heaven" or good times, the singer will be there with the significant other through the bad times, or "hell."
"Love, you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna stand by you" The singer will "stand by" or be there with their significant other through it all.
"And the heart, sometimes it's unclear why it's beating" This could be a reference to suicide.
"I'll be your eyes when yours can't shine" The singer will be their significant other's happiness when the significant other is going through a difficult time.
"I'll be your arms, I'll be your steady satellite" The singer will be their significant other's rock when everything seems to be falling apart.
"And when you can't rise, well, I'll cry with you on hands and knees" When the significant other is going through their darkest time, the singer will be there for them.
That is just my interpretation of the song, mostly based on personal experience, but I would love to hear other song meanings!
I love this song it's one of my favorites and I think of a lot of my friends every time I hear this song because there always there for me and Rachel's describes how she tells the other person let me help you and be there for you and that's what my friends do I know great friends huh (jk)