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.
Think I'll go out to Alberta
Weather's good there in the fall
I got some friends that I could go to working for.
Still I wish you'd change your mind
If I ask you one more time
But we've been through this a hundred times or more.
Four strong winds that blow lonely
Seven seas that run high
All those things that don't change come what may.
If the good times are all gone
Then I'm bound for movin' on
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.
If I get there before the snow flies
And if things are lookin' good
You could meet me if I send you down the fare.
But, by then it would be winter
Not too much for you to do
And those winds sure can blow cold way out there.
Four strong winds that blow lonely
Seven seas that run high
All those things that don't change come what may.
The good times are all gone
So I'm bound for movin' on
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.
Still I wish you'd change your mind
If I ask you one more time
But we've been through that a hundred times or more.
Four strong winds that blow lonely
Seven seas that run high
All those things that don't change come what may.
If the good times are all gone
Then I'm bound for movin' on
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.
Weather's good there in the fall
I got some friends that I could go to working for.
Still I wish you'd change your mind
If I ask you one more time
But we've been through this a hundred times or more.
Four strong winds that blow lonely
Seven seas that run high
All those things that don't change come what may.
If the good times are all gone
Then I'm bound for movin' on
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.
If I get there before the snow flies
And if things are lookin' good
You could meet me if I send you down the fare.
But, by then it would be winter
Not too much for you to do
And those winds sure can blow cold way out there.
Four strong winds that blow lonely
Seven seas that run high
All those things that don't change come what may.
The good times are all gone
So I'm bound for movin' on
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.
Still I wish you'd change your mind
If I ask you one more time
But we've been through that a hundred times or more.
Four strong winds that blow lonely
Seven seas that run high
All those things that don't change come what may.
If the good times are all gone
Then I'm bound for movin' on
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.
I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.
Lyrics submitted by lvr
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I've been listening to this song nonstop for a couple hours, and I just realized that it's not a sad song at all. The singer is trying to weasel his way out of his relationship.
"We've been through that a hundred times or more."
"IF I get there before the snow flies, and IF things are looking good..."
"But by then it would be winter, not too much for you to do, and those winds sure can blow cold way out there."
"I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way."
It's a brush-off. He's giving her every reason for why she SHOULDN'T follow him.
It's definitely a love song, but what the singer loves is the great outdoors, the open road, the restless lifestyle, freedom. He may have loved her too, but she pales in comparison to whatever it is he's looking for out there. It's a true cowboy song, and this interpretation doesn't diminish its beauty one bit.
@corvelay Yes. He's trying to talk her out of joining him because he's ambivalent about the commitment, is how it reads to me.
one of the greatest songs, covered by some of the greatest people
the greatest song ever, it rings true to my life
Ian Tyson wrot this song. On stage Neil said that it was one of the most beautiful songs he ever heard. It really is a nice song!
I wish she would change her mind if I asked her one more time..but we've been through that a hundred times or more. I am going out to BC instead of Alberta though, gotta start a new life, theres no other way to get rid of this heartache. Thank you Neil for giving me someone to relate to. You've saved my life many times. I will love your musical contributions forever..even if this is Ian & Sylvia's originally, I like your version more, hehe