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.
Edwin McCain – Romeo and Juliet
see love struck Romeo hit the street on a serenade
and he’s laying everybody low with a love song that he made
he finds a streetlight steps out of the shade
says something like you and me baby how about it?
Juliet’s gonna say hey it's Romeo you nearly gimme a heart attack
he's underneath my window she's singing hey la my boyfriend's back
you shouldn't come around here singing up to people like that
well anyway what you gonna do about it?
Juliet when we made love you used to cry
you said you love me like the stars above you’d love me till you
Well there's a place for us and you know the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?
we both came up on different streets they both were streets of shame
both dirty both mean and the dream was just the same
and I dreamed your dream for you and now your dream is real
how can you look at me as if I was just another one of your deals?
Oh no you can fall for chains of silver you can fall for chains of gold
you can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold
you promised me everything you know you promised me thick and thin
Now you say oh Romeo yeah I used to have a scene with him
Oh Juliet when we made love you used to cry
used to swear like the stars above well you’d love me till the day that we died
Well there's a place for us you know the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?
I can't do the talk like they talk on TV
and I can't do a love song like the way it's meant to be
I can't do everything but I'd do anything for you
Juliet all I can do is be in love with you
And all I do is miss you and the way we used to be
all I do is keep the beat in this rock n roll company
all I do is kiss you through the bars of a rhyme
Julie I'd do the stars with you any time
Oh Juliet when we made love you used to cry
used to swear like the stars above well you’d love me till the day that we died
there's a place for us you know the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?
See a love struck Romeo hit the street on a serenade
laying everybody low with a love song that he made
finds a streetlight steps out of the shade
says something like you and me baby how about it?
You and me baby, now how about it?
You and me baby, now how about it?
well Juliet the dice were loaded from the start
and I bet and you exploded through my heart
well there's a place for us you know the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?
yeah now Juliet the time was wrong
oh I know the time was wrong yeah
the time was wrong
yea and I know the time was wrong yeah
see love struck Romeo hit the street on a serenade
and he’s laying everybody low with a love song that he made
he finds a streetlight steps out of the shade
says something like you and me baby how about it?
Juliet’s gonna say hey it's Romeo you nearly gimme a heart attack
he's underneath my window she's singing hey la my boyfriend's back
you shouldn't come around here singing up to people like that
well anyway what you gonna do about it?
Juliet when we made love you used to cry
you said you love me like the stars above you’d love me till you
Well there's a place for us and you know the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?
we both came up on different streets they both were streets of shame
both dirty both mean and the dream was just the same
and I dreamed your dream for you and now your dream is real
how can you look at me as if I was just another one of your deals?
Oh no you can fall for chains of silver you can fall for chains of gold
you can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold
you promised me everything you know you promised me thick and thin
Now you say oh Romeo yeah I used to have a scene with him
Oh Juliet when we made love you used to cry
used to swear like the stars above well you’d love me till the day that we died
Well there's a place for us you know the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?
I can't do the talk like they talk on TV
and I can't do a love song like the way it's meant to be
I can't do everything but I'd do anything for you
Juliet all I can do is be in love with you
And all I do is miss you and the way we used to be
all I do is keep the beat in this rock n roll company
all I do is kiss you through the bars of a rhyme
Julie I'd do the stars with you any time
Oh Juliet when we made love you used to cry
used to swear like the stars above well you’d love me till the day that we died
there's a place for us you know the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?
See a love struck Romeo hit the street on a serenade
laying everybody low with a love song that he made
finds a streetlight steps out of the shade
says something like you and me baby how about it?
You and me baby, now how about it?
You and me baby, now how about it?
well Juliet the dice were loaded from the start
and I bet and you exploded through my heart
well there's a place for us you know the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?
yeah now Juliet the time was wrong
oh I know the time was wrong yeah
the time was wrong
yea and I know the time was wrong yeah
Lyrics submitted by eyeheartpunkboys
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I know what you mean, I downloaded the Dire Straits version after hearing this one but didn't like it nearly as much. I was surprised to see that I'm the one that submitted it, I had completely forgotten!