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 don't believe I've seen
A woman like you anywhere
And I must admit that I can't see
To making you into a dream
But if I had a magical wonder word
I'd send a dove to catch your love
And I send a blackbird to steal your heart
But a broken heart won't go
My endless search, little girl
I gonna fix a magical spell
To weave on you, little girl
I'll fall along that you catch the wind
Upon the orange to sweetest sin
Before this very moment evil in
I'd rather wait at the dark
Of thousand times, little girl
And take the woman until
The heart of my soul
And if I catch you sleeping along the west
And gave you alone my secret way
But I bind your heart unto me very slow
I don't believe I've seen
A woman like you anywhere
And I must admit that I can't see
To making you into a dream
And if I had a magical wonder word
I send a dove to catch your love
And I send a blackbird to steal your heart
A woman like you anywhere
And I must admit that I can't see
To making you into a dream
But if I had a magical wonder word
I'd send a dove to catch your love
And I send a blackbird to steal your heart
But a broken heart won't go
My endless search, little girl
I gonna fix a magical spell
To weave on you, little girl
I'll fall along that you catch the wind
Upon the orange to sweetest sin
Before this very moment evil in
I'd rather wait at the dark
Of thousand times, little girl
And take the woman until
The heart of my soul
And if I catch you sleeping along the west
And gave you alone my secret way
But I bind your heart unto me very slow
I don't believe I've seen
A woman like you anywhere
And I must admit that I can't see
To making you into a dream
And if I had a magical wonder word
I send a dove to catch your love
And I send a blackbird to steal your heart
Lyrics submitted by shewouldnt
A Woman Like You Lyrics as written by Herbert Jansch
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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He's not exactly the clearest of singers, but still:
"I don't believe I've seen, A woman like you, anywhere, And I must admit that I can't see, My making you into a dream. But if I had a magic wand to wave, I'd send a dove to catch your love, And I'd send a blackbird to steal you heart
A broken heart won't cure, My endless search, little girl, I'm gonna fix a magic spell, To weave on you, little girl. 'L' for the Long grass to catch you in, 'O' for the Orange to sweeten sin, 'V' for this Very moment, 'E' for thEe.
I'd rather wait and die, A thousand times, little girl, Than take a woman into the heart of my soul, But if I caught you sleeping all unawares, I'd carry you off to my secret lair, There I'd bind your heart to my very soul.
I don't believe I have seen, A woman like you, anywhere, And I must admit I can't see, My making you into a dream. And if I had a magic wand to wave, I'd send a dove to catch your love, And I'd send a blackbird to steal your heart."
I'd not heard that interpretation of the second verse until recently, but it makes more sense than I'd thought. It is a spell, after all.
I'd heard it as;
"Call for the long grass (to catch you in), Call for the orange (to sweeten sin), Before this very moment, evilly."
It's difficult to make out whether the narrator is a right demented psycho, or just teetering on the brink of romantic obsession.
I cannot tell you how thankful I am for this lyric set. The L-O-V-E motif in verse #2 has completely eluded me for pretty much 4 decades until now. I have the guitar thing down pretty well by now, but I could never (and probably never would) be able to decipher that 2nd verse lyric by listening to recordings. THANKS!!! There's no doubt in my mind that that is exactly what he is singing, except maybe the last line of verse-2, which on some tapes I am hearing as 'Ere with thee" .. or maybe "Here with thee" .. whatever .... But what do I know.
I cannot tell you how thankful I am for this lyric set. The L-O-V-E motif in verse #2 has completely eluded me for pretty much 4 decades until now. I have the guitar thing down pretty well by now, but I could never (and probably never would) be able to decipher that 2nd verse lyric by listening to recordings. THANKS!!! There's no doubt in my mind that that is exactly what he is singing, except maybe the last line of verse-2, which on some tapes I am hearing as 'Ere with thee" .. or maybe "Here with thee" .. whatever .... But what do I know.
First of all, I think you have got most of it. Bert is my number one favourite. <br /> <br /> I have my doubts about "And I must admit that I can't see". It is how I have been singing it but it does not make much sense. I think he might actually be saying "I CAN see". <br /> <br /> With regard to "E' for thEe" which is impossible to make out by listening to the song, I think he might be saying Evelyn. I definitely hear an "n" at the end of the line.<br /> <br /> The rest is spot on.