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.
I fell in love with a girl of nineteen
A black-haired girl I called Abilene
"Young girl, where's your husband?"
"Sadly," she replied, "I do not have one."
"It's you I'll marry with your parents' permission."
"No fine sir, they will not let me marry
For I am a young girl
And you are a man without money."
"Then I'll come by your window
Tonight when they both will be sleeping
Outside your window in a carriage I will be waiting
They'll awake, find you gone
Rub their eyes and think they're dreaming."
And never did they think
That their Abilene would leave them
"Now fine sir, where is it you shall take me?
Is it the mountains high
Or is it the deep blue sea?"
A black-haired girl I called Abilene
"Young girl, where's your husband?"
"Sadly," she replied, "I do not have one."
"It's you I'll marry with your parents' permission."
"No fine sir, they will not let me marry
For I am a young girl
And you are a man without money."
"Then I'll come by your window
Tonight when they both will be sleeping
Outside your window in a carriage I will be waiting
They'll awake, find you gone
Rub their eyes and think they're dreaming."
And never did they think
That their Abilene would leave them
"Now fine sir, where is it you shall take me?
Is it the mountains high
Or is it the deep blue sea?"
Lyrics submitted by sarahsavedlatin
Abilene Lyrics as written by Damien Jurado
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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it hit me. and all it took was a drive through the beuatiful canadian rockys
i think "is it in the mountaisn high or is it the deep blue sea" is a question of weither hes taking her to heaven or hell
I think "Is it in the mountains high? Or is it the deep blue sea?" means heaven or hell, happiness or sadness, but there is also a tone of weird threat of isolation to this whole song. For example, when the speaker is talking about her parents, and how they will not believe she left them----he sounds kind of gleeful to be taking this naive girl away from everything and everyone she knows.
It could also be the devil himself. It sounds rather mysterious and dark, like the Devil has come to tempt her away from her "goodness" and into the dark unknown.
holy cow, this song is great. i think that damien jurado is amazing. i don't really think that there is anything to explain about this song, it's fairly straightforward. i love the midwestern country/folk music that damien is bringing back. really good, solid musicianship.
it seems a bit strange posting this after all this time but my reading of this song is a bit different. To me the guy who's telling the story is a hopeless dreamer (note the way he seems overly interested in her parents reactions to their eloping). Abilene is well aware of this. The final lines are like her saying... and sure...where are you going to take me (with no money!) China? The Moon?
this song is great, just listen, there's nothing to realy explain
Agreed
a beaut.
agreed. asojfdhasljdfhksdfhl
(omfgwtfstfuplzkthx) this remarkable song sounds botch catchy and ancient.
beautiful song
"is it in the mountaisn high or is it the deep blue sea" that just seems like something to me that could mean something else haha