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.
Looking for someone,
I guess I'm doing that
Trying to find a memory in a dark room
Dirty man, you're looking like a Buddha, I know you well
Yeah
Keep on a straight line
I don't believe I can,
Trying to find a needle in a haystack,
Chilly wind you're piercing like a dagger, it hurts me so.
Yeah
Nobody needs to discover me, I'm back again.
You see the sunlight through the trees, to keep you warm
in peaceful shades of green
Yet in the darkness of my mind
Damascus wasn't far behind.
Lost in a subway,
I guess I'm losing time.
There's a man looking at a magazine
You're such a fool, your mumbo-jumbo never tells me anything
Yeah
Nobody needs to discover me I'm back again
You feel the ashes from the fire that kept you warm
its comfort disappears
And still the only friend I know
Will never tell me where I go
Looking for someone and now I've found myself a name
Come away, leave me, all that I have I will give
Leave me, leave me, all that I am I will give
I guess I'm doing that
Trying to find a memory in a dark room
Dirty man, you're looking like a Buddha, I know you well
Yeah
Keep on a straight line
I don't believe I can,
Trying to find a needle in a haystack,
Chilly wind you're piercing like a dagger, it hurts me so.
Yeah
Nobody needs to discover me, I'm back again.
You see the sunlight through the trees, to keep you warm
in peaceful shades of green
Yet in the darkness of my mind
Damascus wasn't far behind.
Lost in a subway,
I guess I'm losing time.
There's a man looking at a magazine
You're such a fool, your mumbo-jumbo never tells me anything
Yeah
Nobody needs to discover me I'm back again
You feel the ashes from the fire that kept you warm
its comfort disappears
And still the only friend I know
Will never tell me where I go
Looking for someone and now I've found myself a name
Come away, leave me, all that I have I will give
Leave me, leave me, all that I am I will give
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Looking for Someone Lyrics as written by Steve Hackett Phil Collins
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Straight Street is mentioned in the story of Paul's conversion to Christianity in Acts 9:10-19:
“ Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."
So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.