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.
Do you remember the time I knew a girl from Mars?
I don't know if you knew that
Oh, we'd stay up late playing cards
Henri Winterman cigars
And she never told me her name
I still love you, the girl from Mars
Sitting in a dreamy daze by the water's edge
On a cool summer night
Fireflies and the stars in the sky
Gentle glowing light
From your cigarette
The breeze blowing softly on my face
Reminds me of something else
Something that in my memory's been misplaced
Suddenly all comes back
And as I look to the stars
I remember the time I knew a girl from Mars
I don't know if you knew that
Oh, we'd stay up late playing cards
Henri Winterman cigars
But she never told me her name
I still love you, the girl from Mars
Surging through the darkness over the moonlight strand
Electricity in the air
Twisting all through the night on the terrace
Now that summer's here
I know that you are almost in love with me
I can see it in your eyes
Strange light shimmering over the sea tonight
And it almost blows my mind
And as I look to the stars
I remember the time I knew a girl from Mars
I don't know if you knew that
Oh, we'd stay up late playing cards
Henri Winterman cigars
But she never told me her name
I still love you, the girl from Mars
Today I sleep in the chair by the window
It felt as if you'd returned
I thought that you were standing over me
When I woke there was no one there
I still love you, girl from Mars
Do you remember the time I knew a girl from Mars?
I don't know if you knew that
Oh, we'd stay up late playing cards
Henri Winterman cigars
But she never told me her name
Do you remember the time I knew a girl from Mars?
I don't know if you knew that
Oh, we'd stay up late playing cards
Henri Winterman cigars
And I'll still dream of you
I still love you, the girl from Mars
I don't know if you knew that
Oh, we'd stay up late playing cards
Henri Winterman cigars
And she never told me her name
I still love you, the girl from Mars
Sitting in a dreamy daze by the water's edge
On a cool summer night
Fireflies and the stars in the sky
Gentle glowing light
From your cigarette
The breeze blowing softly on my face
Reminds me of something else
Something that in my memory's been misplaced
Suddenly all comes back
And as I look to the stars
I remember the time I knew a girl from Mars
I don't know if you knew that
Oh, we'd stay up late playing cards
Henri Winterman cigars
But she never told me her name
I still love you, the girl from Mars
Surging through the darkness over the moonlight strand
Electricity in the air
Twisting all through the night on the terrace
Now that summer's here
I know that you are almost in love with me
I can see it in your eyes
Strange light shimmering over the sea tonight
And it almost blows my mind
And as I look to the stars
I remember the time I knew a girl from Mars
I don't know if you knew that
Oh, we'd stay up late playing cards
Henri Winterman cigars
But she never told me her name
I still love you, the girl from Mars
Today I sleep in the chair by the window
It felt as if you'd returned
I thought that you were standing over me
When I woke there was no one there
I still love you, girl from Mars
Do you remember the time I knew a girl from Mars?
I don't know if you knew that
Oh, we'd stay up late playing cards
Henri Winterman cigars
But she never told me her name
Do you remember the time I knew a girl from Mars?
I don't know if you knew that
Oh, we'd stay up late playing cards
Henri Winterman cigars
And I'll still dream of you
I still love you, the girl from Mars
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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Ash is freaking awesome. thumbs up