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.
We have been moving
To cuts and bruises
I'll sing a song for you
Run faster or you'll lose it
This is our heartbeat
Our words are so sweet
You dropped your medicine
Inside the water that we drink
Mama, tell me do I have a fever?
From the west I see the warrior sleep
And from the eat I watch the witches bathe my feet
I headed north and saw you dancing in the rain
I woke up in the south and I will never be the same
Mama, tell me do I have a fever?
I looked left to find your fingerprints were gone
I look right to something was going wrong
I looked up to see the sun had flickered out
I headed down the road that lead me to the south
Oh Lord, This road I travel
Has made my head unravel
I just want to go home
But this road won't let me go
Country road
Take me home
To the place
Where I belong
I'm so homesick
And I can't see straight
I'm not gonna make it
It's getting too late
Oh Lord, This road I travel
Has made my head unravel
I just want to go home
But this road won't let me go
We have been moving
To cuts and bruises
I'll sing a song for you
Run faster or you'll lose it
This is our heartbeat
Our words are so sweet
I cannot wake from you
You will not ever wake from me
To cuts and bruises
I'll sing a song for you
Run faster or you'll lose it
This is our heartbeat
Our words are so sweet
You dropped your medicine
Inside the water that we drink
Mama, tell me do I have a fever?
From the west I see the warrior sleep
And from the eat I watch the witches bathe my feet
I headed north and saw you dancing in the rain
I woke up in the south and I will never be the same
Mama, tell me do I have a fever?
I looked left to find your fingerprints were gone
I look right to something was going wrong
I looked up to see the sun had flickered out
I headed down the road that lead me to the south
Oh Lord, This road I travel
Has made my head unravel
I just want to go home
But this road won't let me go
Country road
Take me home
To the place
Where I belong
I'm so homesick
And I can't see straight
I'm not gonna make it
It's getting too late
Oh Lord, This road I travel
Has made my head unravel
I just want to go home
But this road won't let me go
We have been moving
To cuts and bruises
I'll sing a song for you
Run faster or you'll lose it
This is our heartbeat
Our words are so sweet
I cannot wake from you
You will not ever wake from me
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
i think this song may be about being addictied to drugs. in the first verse he says: "You dropped your medicine Inside the water that we drink Mama, tell me do I have a fever?" this may be how he didn't realize what he was geting into. in the chorus he says: "Oh Lord, This road I travel Has made my head unravel" i think he's saying here how messed up he feels. throughout the song he talks about wanting to go home, but the road won't let him. i.e. he can't get off the drugs. in the second two verses he talks about different directions in his life and about the south and going south. i've heard the expression "things went south" to mean that things went wrong, and i think that's what he means here. i may be wrong, and i may be right, everyone has their opinions, but that's just what i get from this song.