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.
Last Saturday
I stood in your entry way
A place where we used to wait
For cars to carry us away
Like once in this storm
They drove me and Justin home
The music was just being born
It was all I was longing for
Now I'm on a plane
Of singing my songs again
Oh, please don't think ill of it
It's the reason I exist
But you
You're the crutch of a cripple
You're the calm of a conscience
You're the peace that I have found
When all these voices talk too loud
Well, you are quietly reassuring me
With the hands of a healer
And the tongue of a teacher
its your voice that I have known
To be the first one on the phone
Yeah, you ran all the lights to the hospital
So don't you say to me
That life's a trap
The future is nothing but a tragedy
'cause I'll be out of that window
Yeah, I'll start wishing to die again
Just say we're not walking backwards, kid
And show me to the door
And I'll walk behind
Out into the hot sunlight
Where the world's very much alive
Even when I close my eyes
Well, should I admit
That my promise is counterfeit
That I'm careless and childish
And that's all I can hope to be
And would you concede
That I think only of myself
I refuse everybody's help
Who has been reaching out for me
Well, you reach with the soul of a sailor
And the swing of a miner
You have cleared the rock away
Leaving gold there in its place
And it is more than anyone could claim
Oh, with the sense of a banker
And with the touch of a tailor
You saved this life for me
And you have sown it to beauty
And I am grateful now and I will always be
So would you sing with me
The song is all I know
Some truths are told now only in a melody
So I've been writing a new one
Yeah, I've been taking my time with it
It's gonna be so perfect
It's gonna hold all of us inside of it
You will see
If you just add your harmony
I think it would be complete
And be worthy of singing
Becomes a symphony
Yeah, you're the cool of the water
You're the start of the summer
Keep me still like a anchor
In a storm you're the cellar
When I'm heavy with worry make me light as a feather
When I'm deafened by anger you're the song I remember
With the grace of a dancer and the strength of a pillar
When I'm starving to suffer you just fill me with laughter
You're a poet
And a saint
You are the only one I choose to imitate
Oh, like the love of a father through the eye of a camera
It's this picture I have seen
We're on a sloping hill of green
And you are walking there beside me
I stood in your entry way
A place where we used to wait
For cars to carry us away
Like once in this storm
They drove me and Justin home
The music was just being born
It was all I was longing for
Now I'm on a plane
Of singing my songs again
Oh, please don't think ill of it
It's the reason I exist
But you
You're the crutch of a cripple
You're the calm of a conscience
You're the peace that I have found
When all these voices talk too loud
Well, you are quietly reassuring me
With the hands of a healer
And the tongue of a teacher
its your voice that I have known
To be the first one on the phone
Yeah, you ran all the lights to the hospital
So don't you say to me
That life's a trap
The future is nothing but a tragedy
'cause I'll be out of that window
Yeah, I'll start wishing to die again
Just say we're not walking backwards, kid
And show me to the door
And I'll walk behind
Out into the hot sunlight
Where the world's very much alive
Even when I close my eyes
Well, should I admit
That my promise is counterfeit
That I'm careless and childish
And that's all I can hope to be
And would you concede
That I think only of myself
I refuse everybody's help
Who has been reaching out for me
Well, you reach with the soul of a sailor
And the swing of a miner
You have cleared the rock away
Leaving gold there in its place
And it is more than anyone could claim
Oh, with the sense of a banker
And with the touch of a tailor
You saved this life for me
And you have sown it to beauty
And I am grateful now and I will always be
So would you sing with me
The song is all I know
Some truths are told now only in a melody
So I've been writing a new one
Yeah, I've been taking my time with it
It's gonna be so perfect
It's gonna hold all of us inside of it
You will see
If you just add your harmony
I think it would be complete
And be worthy of singing
Becomes a symphony
Yeah, you're the cool of the water
You're the start of the summer
Keep me still like a anchor
In a storm you're the cellar
When I'm heavy with worry make me light as a feather
When I'm deafened by anger you're the song I remember
With the grace of a dancer and the strength of a pillar
When I'm starving to suffer you just fill me with laughter
You're a poet
And a saint
You are the only one I choose to imitate
Oh, like the love of a father through the eye of a camera
It's this picture I have seen
We're on a sloping hill of green
And you are walking there beside me
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