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.
The gymnast, high above the ground,
Limbers up and falls timber town
Ankles splayed and all tied
The gymnast long has arrived
Lasy, your long sister lays
Waiting out this long light brigade
Prayed for snow a long time
And lazy, it long has arrived
Through the tarlatan holes
You've been slipping, been slipping away
And the weather will hold
It's been ever, so ever, so gray
And here as we're coming down
We're sounding out: it's a terrible, terrible tide
As it lights upon your eye
But there on the motorway, reeks of marmalade,
It's a chemical, chemical kind
As it lights upon your eye...
Lights upon your eye
The bosun calls upon the quay
Compass gone, he long has lost his way
To lighthouse shine, to calm tide
The bosun long has arrived
Through the tarlatan holes
You've been slipping, been slipping away
And the weather will hold
It's been ever, so ever, so gray
And here as we're coming down
We're sounding out: it's a terrible, terrible tide
As it lights upon your eye
But there on the motorway, reeks of marmalade,
It's a chemical, chemical kind
As it lights upon your eye...
Lights upon your eye
April marches on
April marches on
April marches on
April marches on
Limbers up and falls timber town
Ankles splayed and all tied
The gymnast long has arrived
Lasy, your long sister lays
Waiting out this long light brigade
Prayed for snow a long time
And lazy, it long has arrived
Through the tarlatan holes
You've been slipping, been slipping away
And the weather will hold
It's been ever, so ever, so gray
And here as we're coming down
We're sounding out: it's a terrible, terrible tide
As it lights upon your eye
But there on the motorway, reeks of marmalade,
It's a chemical, chemical kind
As it lights upon your eye...
Lights upon your eye
The bosun calls upon the quay
Compass gone, he long has lost his way
To lighthouse shine, to calm tide
The bosun long has arrived
Through the tarlatan holes
You've been slipping, been slipping away
And the weather will hold
It's been ever, so ever, so gray
And here as we're coming down
We're sounding out: it's a terrible, terrible tide
As it lights upon your eye
But there on the motorway, reeks of marmalade,
It's a chemical, chemical kind
As it lights upon your eye...
Lights upon your eye
April marches on
April marches on
April marches on
April marches on
Lyrics submitted by sendthestars
The Gymnast, High Above the Ground Lyrics as written by Colin Meloy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Great version of a great song,
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The lyrics are printed on the Her Majesty CD jacket. It's "Limbers up and falls timber down" "Lanky, your long sister lays" "But here as we're coming down/ And we're calling out"