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.
If I lived in China,
I'd have some Chinese children
If I lived in China,
I'd have some Chinese children
Well out of my toes,
My little black baby grows
And that's my fact
Well if I lived in China,
I'd have some Chinese children
Yeah, if I lived in China,
I'd have some Chinese children
Well if I lived in China,
If I lived in China
Well out of my ears,
My little black baby hears
And that's my fact
Now if I lived in Russia,
I'd have some Chinese children
Yeah, if I lived in Prussia,
I'd have some Chinese children
Well if I lived in India,
They'd still be Chinese children
And out of my toes,
My little blue baby grows
And that's another fact
Now if I lived in Ireland,
I'd have some Chinese children
Yeah, if I lived in Ireland,
I'd have some Chinese children
Well if I lived in Spain-land,
They'd still be Chinese children
And if I lived in Greece-land,
They'd still be Chinese children
But out of my thumbs,
My little red baby runs
And that's another fact
An unchanging fact
Now if I lived in my land, which I do,
I'd still have Chinese children
And if I lived in Iceland,
I'd still have Chinese children
Well if I lived in Greenland,
I'd still have Chinese children
But out of my ears,
My little gray baby hears
And that's my fact
Well if I lived in Thailand,
I'd have some Chinese children
And if I lived in Japan
I'd still have Chinese children
Well if I lived in this land,
Or if I lived in that land
And up from my lungs
And standing on my tongue
My little baby sung
Yeah, if I lived in Brooklyn,
I'd still have Chinese children
And if I lived in Oakland,
I'd still have Chinese children
If I was an Indian
Yeah, if I was an Indian
Whatever I do,
They're Chinese through and through
Well I like Chinese children
I got Chinese children
I'd have some Chinese children
If I lived in China,
I'd have some Chinese children
Well out of my toes,
My little black baby grows
And that's my fact
Well if I lived in China,
I'd have some Chinese children
Yeah, if I lived in China,
I'd have some Chinese children
Well if I lived in China,
If I lived in China
Well out of my ears,
My little black baby hears
And that's my fact
Now if I lived in Russia,
I'd have some Chinese children
Yeah, if I lived in Prussia,
I'd have some Chinese children
Well if I lived in India,
They'd still be Chinese children
And out of my toes,
My little blue baby grows
And that's another fact
Now if I lived in Ireland,
I'd have some Chinese children
Yeah, if I lived in Ireland,
I'd have some Chinese children
Well if I lived in Spain-land,
They'd still be Chinese children
And if I lived in Greece-land,
They'd still be Chinese children
But out of my thumbs,
My little red baby runs
And that's another fact
An unchanging fact
Now if I lived in my land, which I do,
I'd still have Chinese children
And if I lived in Iceland,
I'd still have Chinese children
Well if I lived in Greenland,
I'd still have Chinese children
But out of my ears,
My little gray baby hears
And that's my fact
Well if I lived in Thailand,
I'd have some Chinese children
And if I lived in Japan
I'd still have Chinese children
Well if I lived in this land,
Or if I lived in that land
And up from my lungs
And standing on my tongue
My little baby sung
Yeah, if I lived in Brooklyn,
I'd still have Chinese children
And if I lived in Oakland,
I'd still have Chinese children
If I was an Indian
Yeah, if I was an Indian
Whatever I do,
They're Chinese through and through
Well I like Chinese children
I got Chinese children
Lyrics submitted by bollywoodtoile
Chinese Children Lyrics as written by Devendra Banhart
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I wonder if it has anything to do with a myth that he just decided to turn in to a nonsensical song? I know he was talking about China, but there is this Yourba (Nigerian) myth about this woman who gives birth to a baby through her thumb, and his name is ZURRJIR and basically he eats everything in the house so his parents decide to kill him, but he comes back as a half-baby and affixes himself to his mothers head. Yeah, this is sort of trippy and unrelated, but interesting nonetheless. It was just like, as soon as i read that I was like "Out of my thuuuuuubs, my little red baby runs, and thats another fact!"