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.
Dancin' where the stars go blue
Dancin' where the evening fell
Dancin' in my wooden shoes
In a wedding gown
Dancin' out on 7th street
Dancin' through the underground
Dancin' little marionette
Are you happy now?
Where do you go when you're lonely
Where do you go when you're blue
Where do you go when you're lonely, I'll follow you
When the stars go blue
When the stars go blue
Blue
Laughing with your pretty mouth (Laughing with your pretty mouth)
Laughing with your broken eyes (Laughing with your broken eyes)
Laughing with your lover's song
In a lullaby
Where do you go when you're lonely
Where do you go when you're blue
Where do you go when you're lonely, I'll follow you
Where do you go when you're lonely
Where do you go where you're blue
Where do you go when you're lonely I'll follow you
Follow you
Yeah yeah, when the stars go blue
When the stars go blue
When the stars go blue
When the stars go blue
Where do you go when you're lonely
Where do you go when the stars go blue
Dancin' where the evening fell
Dancin' in my wooden shoes
In a wedding gown
Dancin' out on 7th street
Dancin' through the underground
Dancin' little marionette
Are you happy now?
Where do you go when you're lonely
Where do you go when you're blue
Where do you go when you're lonely, I'll follow you
When the stars go blue
When the stars go blue
Blue
Laughing with your pretty mouth (Laughing with your pretty mouth)
Laughing with your broken eyes (Laughing with your broken eyes)
Laughing with your lover's song
In a lullaby
Where do you go when you're lonely
Where do you go when you're blue
Where do you go when you're lonely, I'll follow you
Where do you go when you're lonely
Where do you go where you're blue
Where do you go when you're lonely I'll follow you
Follow you
Yeah yeah, when the stars go blue
When the stars go blue
When the stars go blue
When the stars go blue
Where do you go when you're lonely
Where do you go when the stars go blue
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ryan adams > bethany joy lenz, u2, bono, corrs... and every other group/artist who has made an attempt at a remake of this song. listen not only to the 'gold' version (ryan adams' original album version) but also to some of the live versions off of his 'bedhead' bootlegs and you will become aware of just how conscious he is of the feelings and emotions he intended on conveying through his tonality in the ways he sings.