10 Song Lyrics That Nobody Understands
4. Only Time Will Tell If We Stand The Test Of Time - Van Halen
As the mid-80's were dawning, Van Halen had seemed to have done the impossible. The departure of David Lee Roth left the band without one of the most charismatic figures in rock history, but they were able to bounce back magnificently with new singer Sammy Hagar across the album 5150.
The album boasted a stunning amount of hit singles, but one of them could have benefited from a few rewrites. "Why Can't This Be Love" is a great futuristic sounding song about devotion, with the singer unsure if his relationship will last. Though Hagar is confident in his love's endurance, he makes clear(-ish) that "only time will tell if we stand the test of time." While the sentiment is fairly positive, the redundancy of the phrase catches the listener off-guard in a weird way.
While it's clear that Hagar wanted to combine two time-related phrases into one thought, the actual execution of the lyric comes together with a pretty audible thud. Van Halen were not always known for the most engaging lyrical structure, but this song's strange declaration of love has left rock fans confused ever since its release. Hagar had proven himself to be the perfect fit for Van Halen, but his initial lyrical forays were certainly strange by hard rock standards.