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.
Darkened rolling figures move
Through prisms of no color
Hand in hand, they walk the night
But never know each other
Passioned pastel neon lights
Light up the jeweled traveler
Who, lost in scenes of smoke-filled dreams
Find questions, but no answers
Startled eyes that sometimes see
Phantasmagoric splendor
Pirouette down palsied paths
With pennies for the vendor
Salvation's yours for just the time
It takes to pay the dancer
And once again, such anxious men
Find questions, but no answers
The night has gone
And taken its infractions
While reddened eyes
Hope there will be a next one
Sahara signs look down upon
A world that glitters glibly
And mountainsides put arms around
The unsuspecting city
Second hands that minds have slowed
Are moving even faster
Toward bringing down someone who's found
The questions, but no answers
Through prisms of no color
Hand in hand, they walk the night
But never know each other
Passioned pastel neon lights
Light up the jeweled traveler
Who, lost in scenes of smoke-filled dreams
Find questions, but no answers
Startled eyes that sometimes see
Phantasmagoric splendor
Pirouette down palsied paths
With pennies for the vendor
Salvation's yours for just the time
It takes to pay the dancer
And once again, such anxious men
Find questions, but no answers
The night has gone
And taken its infractions
While reddened eyes
Hope there will be a next one
Sahara signs look down upon
A world that glitters glibly
And mountainsides put arms around
The unsuspecting city
Second hands that minds have slowed
Are moving even faster
Toward bringing down someone who's found
The questions, but no answers
Lyrics submitted by stardroplet, edited by JohnnyLurg
Daily Nightly [Remastered] Lyrics as written by Michael Nesmith
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I've heard it was Mike's take on the LA riots. Either way, a brilliant song, and the psychedelic vibe of the Moog synthesizer is perfect.
To me this doesn't mean much. I think Mickey puts it best at the tale end of the video for this..."Psycadellic". I
Mike mentioned during a DVD commentary track from the season 2 DVDs that some lyrics from this song came from poetry that he wrote during his time on the show.
I read this song came from a poem Mickey wrote about the November 1966 Los Angeles Curfew Riots.