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 music box
Is all that's left in the empty house
Must've left it when they moved out
In a hurry to flee the town
Armoured tanks
Broke through all of the soldier's ranks
You can be sure they weren't shooting blanks
From bodies laid out on the ground
There's a song your father had sung
When you were just knee high
Now a soldier plays the same tune
From the toy you left behind
Something to remind you
Something to remind you
Burnt to black
There's a face you don't recognise
Just a doll with hollow eyes
And a feeling you can't describe
In factories
Toys are made by the companies
Who create our killing machines
So the planet can rest at ease
There's a story you had to hear
When you couldn't sleep at all
Now the pages are burning in some
Sad unholy war
Something to remind you
Something to remind you
Something to remind you
The ones you left behind you
Something to remind you
Something to remind you
Something to remind you
The ones you left behind you
The music box
Plays a song that I used to love
But now I can't remember what it was
For my memory has faded
Is all that's left in the empty house
Must've left it when they moved out
In a hurry to flee the town
Armoured tanks
Broke through all of the soldier's ranks
You can be sure they weren't shooting blanks
From bodies laid out on the ground
There's a song your father had sung
When you were just knee high
Now a soldier plays the same tune
From the toy you left behind
Something to remind you
Something to remind you
Burnt to black
There's a face you don't recognise
Just a doll with hollow eyes
And a feeling you can't describe
In factories
Toys are made by the companies
Who create our killing machines
So the planet can rest at ease
There's a story you had to hear
When you couldn't sleep at all
Now the pages are burning in some
Sad unholy war
Something to remind you
Something to remind you
Something to remind you
The ones you left behind you
Something to remind you
Something to remind you
Something to remind you
The ones you left behind you
The music box
Plays a song that I used to love
But now I can't remember what it was
For my memory has faded
Lyrics submitted by sethbrown
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