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.
Twilight turns from amethyst
To deep and deeper blue
We've got an hour or two
Before it's time to go
Let's go see a movie show
Jeanne can't choose
Between the two
'Cause Jules is hip
And Jim is cool
And so they live together
With the trees and birds
And little girls
Who play upon
Poor Jean-Claude's nerves
Till finally
He strokes Claire's knee
And when she asks
Of his ambition
Jean-Pierre replies
"My mission
Is to become eternal
And to die..."
Heaven knows the reason why...
When the lights go out
All over Europe
I forget about old Hollywood,
'Cause Doris Day could never
Make me cheer up
Quite the way those French girls always could
[French Verses]
When the lights go out
All over Europe
I forget about old MGM
'Cause Paramount
Was never Universal
And Warners went out
Way back when
Those lights go out
All over Europe
I forget about old Hollywood,
'Cause Doris Day could never
Make me cheer up
Quite the way those French girls
Always could.
To deep and deeper blue
We've got an hour or two
Before it's time to go
Let's go see a movie show
Jeanne can't choose
Between the two
'Cause Jules is hip
And Jim is cool
And so they live together
With the trees and birds
And little girls
Who play upon
Poor Jean-Claude's nerves
Till finally
He strokes Claire's knee
And when she asks
Of his ambition
Jean-Pierre replies
"My mission
Is to become eternal
And to die..."
Heaven knows the reason why...
When the lights go out
All over Europe
I forget about old Hollywood,
'Cause Doris Day could never
Make me cheer up
Quite the way those French girls always could
[French Verses]
When the lights go out
All over Europe
I forget about old MGM
'Cause Paramount
Was never Universal
And Warners went out
Way back when
Those lights go out
All over Europe
I forget about old Hollywood,
'Cause Doris Day could never
Make me cheer up
Quite the way those French girls
Always could.
Lyrics submitted by Hang The DJ
When the Lights Go Out All Over Europe Lyrics as written by Neil Hannon
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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