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.
Nobody knows it but I am so sad
Nobody knows it but I am so sad
And that is the saddest of all my girl
That is the saddest of all
We climbed the ladder to the top of my house
Never letting go of your hand
The sky trades the moon for the sun my girl
The sky trades the moon for the sun
And I gave to you my ugly brown coat
You made it pretty when you put it on
Warmth in the early morning chill my girl
Warmth in the early April
Then you said you’d trade the love of a man
Tears fell soft from your face to my hands
Said you’d trade your heart for mine my girl
I traded my heart for those days
And you made it clear it was strictly a deal
Of springtime love and that’s how I should feel
So I set the clock back an hour my girl
I set the time a just right
You see somewhere back there when I was boy
Furious I had become by the point
That men are just liars and thieves of sorts
Men are just liars and thieves
But I still believe and I stand by my words
I don’t know what you have seen or you’ve heard
But somebody’s lying to you my girl
Somebody’s lying to you
You really made me believe I could stay
Part with you actions in part what you said
But that was just foolish pride my girl
And those are only feelings inside
So I’m going back to the place where we met
I’m going to find the beer bottle we left
Wedged in the limbs of the tree that we sat in
Wedged in the magnolia tree
Well we hid for days like a proud pair of thieves
Too sure we were right too stubborn too leave
Wasted with the moment we lifted my girl
Stolen forever with you
Nobody knows it but I am so sad
And that is the saddest of all my girl
That is the saddest of all
We climbed the ladder to the top of my house
Never letting go of your hand
The sky trades the moon for the sun my girl
The sky trades the moon for the sun
And I gave to you my ugly brown coat
You made it pretty when you put it on
Warmth in the early morning chill my girl
Warmth in the early April
Then you said you’d trade the love of a man
Tears fell soft from your face to my hands
Said you’d trade your heart for mine my girl
I traded my heart for those days
And you made it clear it was strictly a deal
Of springtime love and that’s how I should feel
So I set the clock back an hour my girl
I set the time a just right
You see somewhere back there when I was boy
Furious I had become by the point
That men are just liars and thieves of sorts
Men are just liars and thieves
But I still believe and I stand by my words
I don’t know what you have seen or you’ve heard
But somebody’s lying to you my girl
Somebody’s lying to you
You really made me believe I could stay
Part with you actions in part what you said
But that was just foolish pride my girl
And those are only feelings inside
So I’m going back to the place where we met
I’m going to find the beer bottle we left
Wedged in the limbs of the tree that we sat in
Wedged in the magnolia tree
Well we hid for days like a proud pair of thieves
Too sure we were right too stubborn too leave
Wasted with the moment we lifted my girl
Stolen forever with you
Lyrics submitted by Thrilliam
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Scott Avett went to college at ECU in Greenville NC. In Greenville there is a Laura Lane just off 14th St. Laura Lane intersects with Lisa Lane. It could be about a girl that lived in that area.
That's all I got.
@Wallus that's pretty cool. i like how avett tittles are esotericc contributing to their songs' meanings by allowing the lyrical poetry to assume an individual meaning to each listener.