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.
I left my friends for the strangers of the town
Between doves and elephants, there can be no common ground
Time obscures their dreary tongues
Makes a ghost of everyone
Call them what they are
A million shadows
They all get pregnant or diseased
I didn’t send for you when I was meant to
Lost a friend in you, but then I meant to
And only my skirts, only my skirts miss you now
You told me that no matter where I went would be a prison
That the world is harsh, I know it is but,
It only hurts, it only hurts if you say “ow”
The things that you don’t think about don’t exist
The day I left there was a lightening strike
Left a border of flames
Tasted carbon on the night
Felt the shape of your name
And everybody knew the secret circus was a fairytale
But I thought I saw a big top in the darkness
Thought I heard a whiplash split the sky
Should’ve heard the helicopter screaming
Everybody thought that they were dreaming
Everything was hot, the ground was steaming
Voices calling out across the water
Firemen and TV news reporters
Stepping on their video recorders
Oh but cameras are liars
I saw bears and there were tigers
And I heard brass in the hiss of the propeller sound
And there were shuffles in the distance as the planes gathered 'round
And there were faces in the vapours, there were acrobats and clowns
You always told me that I tend to overdramatise
But I have seen these things with my very own eyes
And then they faded into ether
And I don't know why (And it’s no surprise)
I guess I didn’t hear the call for when the curtain died
Because the things you set on fire don’t exist
Between doves and elephants, there can be no common ground
Time obscures their dreary tongues
Makes a ghost of everyone
Call them what they are
A million shadows
They all get pregnant or diseased
I didn’t send for you when I was meant to
Lost a friend in you, but then I meant to
And only my skirts, only my skirts miss you now
You told me that no matter where I went would be a prison
That the world is harsh, I know it is but,
It only hurts, it only hurts if you say “ow”
The things that you don’t think about don’t exist
The day I left there was a lightening strike
Left a border of flames
Tasted carbon on the night
Felt the shape of your name
And everybody knew the secret circus was a fairytale
But I thought I saw a big top in the darkness
Thought I heard a whiplash split the sky
Should’ve heard the helicopter screaming
Everybody thought that they were dreaming
Everything was hot, the ground was steaming
Voices calling out across the water
Firemen and TV news reporters
Stepping on their video recorders
Oh but cameras are liars
I saw bears and there were tigers
And I heard brass in the hiss of the propeller sound
And there were shuffles in the distance as the planes gathered 'round
And there were faces in the vapours, there were acrobats and clowns
You always told me that I tend to overdramatise
But I have seen these things with my very own eyes
And then they faded into ether
And I don't know why (And it’s no surprise)
I guess I didn’t hear the call for when the curtain died
Because the things you set on fire don’t exist
Lyrics submitted by sepata
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Love that part. That was the bit that dragged the rest of the song into my head and made it stay there for weeks.