We use the vacuum expectation value of a Wegner-Wilson loop representing a fast moving quarkantiquark pair to derive the light cone Hamiltonian for a qq meson. We solve the corresponding Schrödinger equation for various trial wave functions. The result shows how confinement determines the meson mass and wave function for valence quarks on the light cone. We also parametrize the effect of the spin-dependent splitting for a light meson and charmonium. The correct chiral-symmetry breaking pattern for the pion mass is obtained due to the self-energy of the quark.