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.
Once in your life you find her
Someone that turns your heart around
And next thing you know you're closing down the town
Wake up and it's still with you
Even though you left her way across town
Wondering to yourself, "Hey, what've I found?"
When you get caught between the moon and New York City
I know it's crazy, but it's true
If you get caught between the moon and New York City
The best that you can do
The best that you can do is fall in love
Arthur he does as he pleases
All of his life, he's mastered choice
Deep in his heart, he's just, he's just a boy
Living his life one day at a time
And showing himself a really good time
Laughing about the way they want him to be
When you get caught between the moon and New York City
I know it's crazy, but it's true
If you get caught between the moon and New York City
The best that you can do (the best that you can do)
The best that you can do is fall in love
When you get caught between the moon and New York City
I know it's crazy, but it's true
If you get caught between the moon and New York City
The best that you can do (the best that you can do)
The best that you can do is fall in love
When you get caught between the moon and New York City
I know it's crazy, but it's true
If you get caught between the moon and New York City
The best that you can do (the best that you can do)
The best that you can do is fall in love
When you get caught between the moon and New York City
(I know it's crazy)
Someone that turns your heart around
And next thing you know you're closing down the town
Wake up and it's still with you
Even though you left her way across town
Wondering to yourself, "Hey, what've I found?"
When you get caught between the moon and New York City
I know it's crazy, but it's true
If you get caught between the moon and New York City
The best that you can do
The best that you can do is fall in love
Arthur he does as he pleases
All of his life, he's mastered choice
Deep in his heart, he's just, he's just a boy
Living his life one day at a time
And showing himself a really good time
Laughing about the way they want him to be
When you get caught between the moon and New York City
I know it's crazy, but it's true
If you get caught between the moon and New York City
The best that you can do (the best that you can do)
The best that you can do is fall in love
When you get caught between the moon and New York City
I know it's crazy, but it's true
If you get caught between the moon and New York City
The best that you can do (the best that you can do)
The best that you can do is fall in love
When you get caught between the moon and New York City
I know it's crazy, but it's true
If you get caught between the moon and New York City
The best that you can do (the best that you can do)
The best that you can do is fall in love
When you get caught between the moon and New York City
(I know it's crazy)
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I love this song but it has special meaning to me... I went on my 1st date to see Arthur with my 1st love and have kept him in my heart for years and then 26 yrs later, We ran back into each other and you guessed it...it started all over for us ;@)
i think the song is about finding the love of your life that can only happen ''once in your life'', the image of been caught 'between the moon and New York city' is a surreal ''crazy'' image but it's supposed to show how crazy a time it is when we meet that special person -our emotions are all over the place, and when it happens we must grab the opportunity as ''the best that you can do is fall in love''.
Arthur he does as he pleases All of his life, he's masters choices Deep in his heart, he's just, he's just a boy
what does this lyric mean?
bsc, have seen the movie "Arthur"? when you see the movie, the lyric makes a little more sense. Arthur lives this spoiled, rich lifestyle. At least, that's what I remember-- it was a long time ago.
Cheese at its finest.
I love the "When you get caught between the moon and New York City" bit. There's something almost perverted about being caught in such a position. (Hey, I'm kidding!)
i just ran across this song for the first time in ages and it is so cheesy. robert frost he's not.
This is a really good song. My take is that if your caught, or stranded, in some random place or situation... that's the best time to fall in love... when you least expect it.
These lyrics -- I know they're crazy, but they're true!
It's a pretty song, but it has some of the laziest rhyming ever. "Town" is rhymed with "town," "time" with "time," "choices" with "pleases"... In fact, there's not a single actual rhyme in it. OK, maybe "true" and "do".
@kreniigh Maybe Steve "Texas/Facts is/Taxes" Miller wrote it...
arthur is drunk all the time. he's high. as a kite. he doesnt wanna come down. to reality. to new york. to real life. hes caught between the moon and new york city. the best that he can do is fall in love. if he falls in love he will sober up. surely ;-)
I have seen the second verse written two ways, and neither of them is the version above. The most common is "all of his life his master's toys" (which honestly makes no sense to me). The other is "all of his life he's mastered choice(s)". I can't find a definitive source though.
BTW, the line about "when you get caught between the moon and New York City" was originally written by Peter Allen when his plane was stuck in a holding pattern above New York. This obviously doesn't invalidate the various interpretations, of course.