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.
Everyone when she was young,
They said she was the pretty one
She's pretty now, just watch her as she goes
Waiting for the bus to come,
She holds the hands of someone young
Who's mother comes and sees her and she smiles
Thank you Louise, Mary Louise, mother of three
Waiting in the check out line,
The supermarket Christmas time
She helps someone who doesn't have the change
Takes a dollar from her purse,
She pays and doesn't say a word
And winks and grins, and Merry Christmas friend
Thank you Louise, Mary Louise, mother of three
In Baltimore the freezing cold,
It chills her daughter to the bone
She walks from work and
Cops the drugs and leaves
Her brother lay upon the bed
He hears the phone and knows his brother's dead
Thank you Louise, Mary Louise, mother of two
They said she was the pretty one
She's pretty now, just watch her as she goes
Waiting for the bus to come,
She holds the hands of someone young
Who's mother comes and sees her and she smiles
Thank you Louise, Mary Louise, mother of three
Waiting in the check out line,
The supermarket Christmas time
She helps someone who doesn't have the change
Takes a dollar from her purse,
She pays and doesn't say a word
And winks and grins, and Merry Christmas friend
Thank you Louise, Mary Louise, mother of three
In Baltimore the freezing cold,
It chills her daughter to the bone
She walks from work and
Cops the drugs and leaves
Her brother lay upon the bed
He hears the phone and knows his brother's dead
Thank you Louise, Mary Louise, mother of two
Lyrics submitted by BlueAndStarry
Thank You Louise Lyrics as written by Ryan Adams
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great version of a great song,
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I'm not quite sure what this song is all about, but I really love listening to it. I love the whole middle stanza. Ryan Adams is a genius.
It seems like a fairly obvious song. basically, woman is really nice, doesn't really deserve bad stuff in her life. She has three kids and they go f**k up. One on drugs, one dies one is a bum or whatever, what a shame. It's a beautiful song though. I wish he hadn't cocked it up when I saw him live :(
This song is rumored to be about Mary Louise Parker (Fried Green Tomatoes, Weeds)