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.
The sun had been up for a couple of hours,
Covered the ground with a layer of gold.
Spirits were high and the raining had stopped,
The larder was low, But boy that wasn't all.
Eleventh Earl of Mar
Couldn't get them very far.
Daddy! Oh Daddy, You Promised.
Out on the road in the direction of Perth,
Backwards and forwards in a circle they went.
Found a city half open and ready to greet,
The conquering heros, with blisters on their feet.
Eleventh Earl of Mar
Somehow got them all this far.
Daddy! You Promised, You Promised.
See the Stewart are dressed up
He's got eyes in the back of his head.
Who came in a cockleshell boat
That could only just float,
Couldn't even lift a sword.
Dressed too fine and smelling of wine.
Daddy you've got to go!
Here come the bishop all dressed up
He's gonna bless you if you're ready to pay
One wave of his funny old stick,
There's a band of light across your eyes.
Waited a week still they hadn't appeared,
That glorious timing that everyone feared.
So they're riding along on the crest of a wave,
They're headed for London, And that will be their grave
Eleventh Earl of Mar
Well he couldn't get them down that far
Daddy! I'm waiting, I'm waiting
Time to go to bed now
Never seems too keen
To be a guest now
In a house of dreams
Flying from a hillside
Beckoning the trees
A sailboat's awning
Mimicking the breeze
I'm fighting gravity falling
My Daddy won't let them get me
A voice screams seems to be calling
The face turns features are burning.
Daddy, you've got to go!
See the fifteen going by,
Tell the Lairds and the Lords
They're running backwards today,
And once again you stand alone.
Bury your memories bury your friends,
Leave it alone for a year or two.
Till the stories go hazy and the legends come true,
Then do it again. Some Things never end.
Eleventh Earl of Mar
Won't be going very far.
You Promised, You Promised, You Promised.
DADDY!
Covered the ground with a layer of gold.
Spirits were high and the raining had stopped,
The larder was low, But boy that wasn't all.
Eleventh Earl of Mar
Couldn't get them very far.
Daddy! Oh Daddy, You Promised.
Out on the road in the direction of Perth,
Backwards and forwards in a circle they went.
Found a city half open and ready to greet,
The conquering heros, with blisters on their feet.
Eleventh Earl of Mar
Somehow got them all this far.
Daddy! You Promised, You Promised.
See the Stewart are dressed up
He's got eyes in the back of his head.
Who came in a cockleshell boat
That could only just float,
Couldn't even lift a sword.
Dressed too fine and smelling of wine.
Daddy you've got to go!
Here come the bishop all dressed up
He's gonna bless you if you're ready to pay
One wave of his funny old stick,
There's a band of light across your eyes.
Waited a week still they hadn't appeared,
That glorious timing that everyone feared.
So they're riding along on the crest of a wave,
They're headed for London, And that will be their grave
Eleventh Earl of Mar
Well he couldn't get them down that far
Daddy! I'm waiting, I'm waiting
Time to go to bed now
Never seems too keen
To be a guest now
In a house of dreams
Flying from a hillside
Beckoning the trees
A sailboat's awning
Mimicking the breeze
I'm fighting gravity falling
My Daddy won't let them get me
A voice screams seems to be calling
The face turns features are burning.
Daddy, you've got to go!
See the fifteen going by,
Tell the Lairds and the Lords
They're running backwards today,
And once again you stand alone.
Bury your memories bury your friends,
Leave it alone for a year or two.
Till the stories go hazy and the legends come true,
Then do it again. Some Things never end.
Eleventh Earl of Mar
Won't be going very far.
You Promised, You Promised, You Promised.
DADDY!
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Eleventh Earl of Mar Lyrics as written by Steven Hackett Michael Rutherford
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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