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.
Let the rivers rock you like a cradle
Climb to the treetops, little child, if you're able
Always let your hands tie a knot across the table
Come and touch the things you cannot feel
Fold your fingertips, girl, and find where I can't hold you
Let the sun ray fall and let the dewey ground unfold you
I know someday you'll sing to me the words I've just told you
If all the things you feel ain't what they seem to be
Don't you mind me girl, 'cause I ain't really nothin' but a dream
I hold some grapes up to the sun
Flavor breaks and bursts and rolls upon my tongue
Eager tongues, we'll always taste our strife
Fill up our lungs with seeds of life
You come and taste and smell the waters of our times
Close your lips, child, so softly I might kiss you
Let your flower perfume out and let the winds come and caress you
As I walk this garden I am hoping I don't miss you
The things you taste and smell ain't what they seem
Don't you mind me girl, I guess I'm nothin' but a walking dream
The sun and moon both are right
We'll see them soon through all our days and night
But the colors I see in your eyes are fiery bright
I swear they blind the heavens with all their light
Come and see what your eyes cannot see
Close your eyes, child and look while I show you
Let your mind go reeling out and let the breezes just blow you
Someday we'll meet again and suddenly I'll know you
All the things that you see ain't what they seem to be
Now don't mind me I ain't nothin' but a dream
A mockingbird sings each different song
Each song has wings and won't stay long
Those who hear him think he's doing wrong
While the church bell and school bell toll their one note song
Come hear where your ears cannot hear
Close your ears child and listen while I tell you
Follow the darkest night, the sounds they may impel you
Even the song I'm singing may disturb or serve to quell you
All the sounds you hear aren't what they seem to be
Don't you mind me girl, oh, I ain't nothing but a dream
If you can follow, girl, follow, girl
If you can follow, girl, follow
Climb to the treetops, little child, if you're able
Always let your hands tie a knot across the table
Come and touch the things you cannot feel
Fold your fingertips, girl, and find where I can't hold you
Let the sun ray fall and let the dewey ground unfold you
I know someday you'll sing to me the words I've just told you
If all the things you feel ain't what they seem to be
Don't you mind me girl, 'cause I ain't really nothin' but a dream
I hold some grapes up to the sun
Flavor breaks and bursts and rolls upon my tongue
Eager tongues, we'll always taste our strife
Fill up our lungs with seeds of life
You come and taste and smell the waters of our times
Close your lips, child, so softly I might kiss you
Let your flower perfume out and let the winds come and caress you
As I walk this garden I am hoping I don't miss you
The things you taste and smell ain't what they seem
Don't you mind me girl, I guess I'm nothin' but a walking dream
The sun and moon both are right
We'll see them soon through all our days and night
But the colors I see in your eyes are fiery bright
I swear they blind the heavens with all their light
Come and see what your eyes cannot see
Close your eyes, child and look while I show you
Let your mind go reeling out and let the breezes just blow you
Someday we'll meet again and suddenly I'll know you
All the things that you see ain't what they seem to be
Now don't mind me I ain't nothin' but a dream
A mockingbird sings each different song
Each song has wings and won't stay long
Those who hear him think he's doing wrong
While the church bell and school bell toll their one note song
Come hear where your ears cannot hear
Close your ears child and listen while I tell you
Follow the darkest night, the sounds they may impel you
Even the song I'm singing may disturb or serve to quell you
All the sounds you hear aren't what they seem to be
Don't you mind me girl, oh, I ain't nothing but a dream
If you can follow, girl, follow, girl
If you can follow, girl, follow
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned
Follow Lyrics as written by Jerry Merrick
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I'm a little surprised that there are no comments for JJW songs. Okay, so the lyrics are usually pretty obvious..."follow" - a Jerry Merrick penned tune - is a little deeper. I've never heard the Richie Havens version (though I'm going to try to find it) - I think a song about young love - she's young, he's older - he wants her to move on. He wants her to experience life much more broadly - put him in the past, "nothing but a dream". This is a pretty old song, but the line "...church bells and school bells toll their one-note songs" still packs a pretty good punch.
I guess the song resounds for me - been there. Still one of the all-time best JJW songs, can't believe it didn't get more of a reaction than it did - great song by one of my favorite all-time singers.