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.
There I was, drifting into a dream,
Where I’d not been before, atop the briny deep,
While moonlight galloped like white horses on the sea,
A squall suddenly set me free,
As I sail, on the sigh of my guide,
I spotted an island, with hills tall as the sky,
But when I reached the fog that we so quickly closed in on,
My memory was left behind.
When I woke, in the boat, on the topside where I lay,
Lazily, in a daze, feeling stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea.
All around, the sea was sputtering,
And from beneath the boat, I could sense rumbling,
Just as a gasped for air I felt a fearsome eruption,
That sent me soaring towards the sky,
With all my might I tried, my eyelids took a dive.
When I woke, in the boat, on the topside where I lay,
Lazily, in a daze, feeling stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea.
And in the clouds, a tempest came about,
That was threatening my homecoming,
With gales so strong, the sails were swept along,
Just as the masts were weakening,
With both eyes peeled, I raked the pallid battlefield,
In hopes surrender could be near,
And with retreat, I plunged into the neutral sheet,
And slowly drifted down back to my sleep.
Where I’d not been before, atop the briny deep,
While moonlight galloped like white horses on the sea,
A squall suddenly set me free,
As I sail, on the sigh of my guide,
I spotted an island, with hills tall as the sky,
But when I reached the fog that we so quickly closed in on,
My memory was left behind.
When I woke, in the boat, on the topside where I lay,
Lazily, in a daze, feeling stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea.
All around, the sea was sputtering,
And from beneath the boat, I could sense rumbling,
Just as a gasped for air I felt a fearsome eruption,
That sent me soaring towards the sky,
With all my might I tried, my eyelids took a dive.
When I woke, in the boat, on the topside where I lay,
Lazily, in a daze, feeling stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea.
And in the clouds, a tempest came about,
That was threatening my homecoming,
With gales so strong, the sails were swept along,
Just as the masts were weakening,
With both eyes peeled, I raked the pallid battlefield,
In hopes surrender could be near,
And with retreat, I plunged into the neutral sheet,
And slowly drifted down back to my sleep.
Lyrics submitted by thatsright
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