“Edging” by Blink-182
For starters, the word “edging” is not found anywhere in these lyrics. So it is ultimately up to the listener’s imagination, in a manner of speaking, as to how that phrase relates to the featured narrative.
And as for said narrative, what it revolves around, most simply put, is the vocalist(s) depicting himself as an unapologetic bad boy or, as stated in a first verse, “a punk rock kid… from hell with a curse”.
His modus operandi is such that the authorities, if you will, are unable to keep up with him. Furthermore, the situation is such that he can’t be ‘saved’ or perhaps, all lyrics considered, has no desire to be. Indeed, it would appear that Tom and Mark (and by extension Travis) have made peace with the fact that they and their ilk are akin to a hellbound lot.
So it’s as if conclusively, they are warning those who may be convinced otherwise that they shouldn’t “be fooled” and rather fully appreciate who it is they’re dealing with here – i.e. hardcore punk rockers in the truest sense of that designation. And in closing, perhaps we can postulate that the term “edging”, in context, alludes to the Blink-182 crew treading that thin line between appearing normal and living on the wild side.
Blink-182 and “Edging”
Blink-182, a band from the relatively small Californian city of Poway, have been doing their thing since the early 1990s. In more recent times most of the singles they’ve participated on have been of the collaborative variety.
The band’s drummer, Travis Barker, is especially known for his many works alongside other artists.
“Edging” is the lead single from a Blink-182 studio album, which is their ninth and the first since 2019’s “Nine”.
It should be stated that this is the first track that the band’s original guitarist, Tom DeLonge, has engaged in since those associated with their EP “Dogs Eating Dogs” (2012), as DeLonge left the group in 2015 though eventually rejoined shortly before “Edging” was dropped on 14 October 2022.
DeLonge and Barker co-wrote this song alongside their bandmate, bassist Mark Hoppus. To note, Blink-182 does not have an official lead vocalist. So it is Hoppus and Tom DeLonge who hold down said responsibility on this track, and Travis Barker produced it.
