Malibu
The Hole Lyrics


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Crash and burn
All the stars explode tonight
How'd you get so desperate?
How'd you stay alive?

Help me, please
Burn the sorrow from your eyes
Oh, come on be alive again
Don't lay down and die!

Hey, hey
You know what to do
Oh, baby, drive away from Malibu

Get well soon
Please don't go any higher
How are you so burnt when
You're barely on fire?

Cry to the angels
I'm gonna rescue you
I'm gonna set you free tonight, baby
Pour over me

Hey, hey
We're all watching you
Oh, baby, fly away to Malibu
Cry to the angels
And let them swallow you
Go and part the sea, yeah, in Malibu

And the sun goes down
I watch you slip away
And the sun goes down
I walk into the waves
And the sun goes down
I watch you slip away
And I would

And I knew
Love would tear you apart
Oh, and I knew
The darkest secret of your heart

Hey, hey
I'm gonna follow you
Oh baby, fly away, yeah, to Malibu
Oceans of angels
Oceans of stars
Down by the sea is where you
Drown your scars

I can't be near you
The light just radiates




I can't be near you
The light just radiates

Overall Meaning

The Hole's song Malibu, written by Courtney Love, is a heart-wrenching ballad that touches on themes of desperation, addiction, and love. The opening lines "Crash and burn, all the stars explode tonight, how'd you get so desperate, how'd you stay alive?" set the tone for the entire song. It could be interpreted as the artist referring to someone who is slowly losing their grip on life, and is reaching a point of desperation where their actions may lead to self-destruction. The pleading tone of "Help me, please, burn the sorrow from your eyes, oh come on be alive again, don't lay down and die," is a clear indication of the singer's concern for the person and an urging to overcome the barriers holding them back.


As the song progresses, the artist repeats a few lines ("Cry to the angels, pour over me, oceans of angels, oceans of stars"), expressing the need to find solace in the divine, and perhaps the absence of such solace thus far. The lines "Hey, hey we're all watching you, oh baby fly away to Malibu" and "Hey, hey I'm gonna follow you, oh baby fly away to Malibu" could be seen as a metaphorical "escape" - Malibu representing freedom, hope, and a fresh start. The song concludes on an ominous and sorrowful note as the artists confesses "I knew love would tear you apart, oh and I knew the darkest secret of your heart".


Overall, Malibu is a powerful and deeply emotive song that explores the human condition with a sense of urgency and immediacy. It speaks to the universal desire for hope and redemption, and the constant struggle to overcome one's personal demons.


Line by Line Meaning

Crash and burn
The situation has gone out of control and fallen apart.


All the stars explode tonight
Everything is falling down and breaking apart.


How'd you get so desperate?
Why did you become so hopeless and helpless?


How'd you stay alive?
How did you endure all the pain and suffering and keep going?


Help me, please
I need your help.


Burn the sorrow from your eyes
Let go of all the pain and sadness.


Oh, come on be alive again
Find the strength to keep going and living.


Don't lay down and die!
Don't give up and let everything fall apart.


Hey, hey
Hey!


You know what to do
You have the answers within yourself.


Oh, baby, drive away from Malibu
Escape from the toxic environment and find a new beginning.


Get well soon
Wishing for a speedy recovery.


Please don't go any higher
Don't let things get worse.


How are you so burnt when
Why are you suffering so much even though


You're barely on fire?
The situation is not as bad as it seems.


Cry to the angels
Seek comfort from a higher power.


I'm gonna rescue you
I will save you from this situation.


I'm gonna set you free tonight, baby
I will give you the freedom to follow your own path.


Pour over me
Let your emotions flow out.


We're all watching you
Everyone is paying attention to your actions.


Oh, baby, fly away to Malibu
Escape to the paradise of Malibu.


And let them swallow you
Let your problems disappear into the void.


Go and part the sea, yeah, in Malibu
Create your own path and destiny in life.


And the sun goes down
As time passes.


I watch you slip away
I see you becoming more distant and unreachable.


I walk into the waves
I let the water envelop me.


And I would
I wish I could


Love would tear you apart
The intensity of love would cause your destruction.


The darkest secret of your heart
The hidden pain and suffering within you.


I'm gonna follow you
I will always be there for you.


Oceans of angels
Countless beings of divinity.


Oceans of stars
Infinite possibilities.


Down by the sea is where you
The beach is your refuge.


Drown your scars
Let the water wash away your emotional and physical scars.


I can't be near you
Your presence is overpowering.


The light just radiates
Your aura is too intense to bear.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: William Patrick Corgan, Courtney M Love, Eric T. Erlandson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@rashmigawade2011

Crash and burn
All the stars explode tonight
How'd you get so desperate?
How'd you stay alive?

Help me, please
Burn the sorrow from your eyes
Oh, come on be alive again
Don't lay down and die!

Hey, hey
You know what to do
Oh, baby, drive away from Malibu

Get well soon
Please don't go any higher
How are you so burnt when
You're barely on fire?

Cry to the angels
I'm gonna rescue you
I'm gonna set you free tonight, baby
Pour over me

Hey, hey
We're all watching you
Oh, baby, fly away to Malibu
Cry to the angels
And let them swallow you
Go and part the sea, yeah, in Malibu

And the sun goes down
I watch you slip away
And the sun goes down
I walk into the waves
And the sun goes down
I watch you slip away
And I would

And I knew
Love would tear you apart
Oh, and I knew
The darkest secret of your heart

Hey, hey
I'm gonna follow you
Oh baby, fly away, yeah, to Malibu
Oceans of angels
Oceans of stars
Down by the sea is where you
Drown your scars

I can't be near you
The light just radiates
I can't be near you
The light just radiates

Source: LyricFind



All comments from YouTube:

@Jorlivia

I've literally been playing this on repeat for the last \few weeks....and I don't know why. For Gods sake I'm a 50 year old Black Man that's never been to Malibu

@matthewmolkentin6230

You win the award for best comment on this post.

Thanks for the laugh, as I can relate (somewhat) - I'm white, but I'm also a 50-year-old man who has never been to Malibu who plays this song on repeat.

@rsp7029

Sometime in your life go to LA. Rent a car and drive up into Malibu Canyon from the 101 and up over the hills to look out over the pacific. Any of the roads down through Charmlee State Park or by Pepperdine University or Leo Carillio. I'm saying this as someone who grew up in LA and am currently sitting in London. I hate Los Angeles but at any given moment there are few places I dream about more. Don't go in summer as it's a flaming hellscape.

@ezefunes1998

ahahaha you say that even though you live in the States and you probably can find your way to Malibu. Imagine being me, living in Argentina and listening to it, having the thought of how Malibu looks like and being influenced by this clip and the Beach Boys. All i can think of Malibu is a paradise where hot blond surfers are everywhere!

@petermiller5149

I give a second vote for best comment.

@wallflower1230

Same here a 50 year old black woman that’s never been to Malibu but I love this song so much imma take a trip for my birthday to Malibu

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@polareb16

The 90’s was a damn special time to be alive and discovering music.

@reston81

The last great Era for music. I'm sad I did not appreciate it till years later

@polareb16

@@reston81 Absolutely and me too. Wish I would’ve appreciated it much more back then. Especially going to see live shows.

@nicolem8620

@@polareb16Sadly, I didn't experience the 90's, but now I'm discovering jems, and I'm loving it. The music right now, makes me sick to the stomach. I'm escaping it through YouTube.

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