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.
Demons on his black steed
Racing through forests night
His heads is nowhere to be found
It's a terryfying sight
Hew scours 'round the countryside
Silver blade in hand
No citizen is safe tonight
He gets what he demands
In sleepy hollow (your head is up for grabs)
In sleepy hollow (fear for your life)
In sleepy hollow (it's you he seeks to find)
In sleepy hollow (beware the night)
When you least expect it
When the horseman strikes
He flies out of the darkness
You sense something's not right
He wields his sword, you hear the steel
He's bearing down on you
You pray to god to spare your life
Then slice, you know you're thru
He's got some heads, now you would think
His nights work was through
Not until the sunrise, will he stop hunting you
His stolen skull must be returned
So he can rest in peace
Until then it seems my friend
You're probably dead meat
Racing through forests night
His heads is nowhere to be found
It's a terryfying sight
Hew scours 'round the countryside
Silver blade in hand
No citizen is safe tonight
He gets what he demands
In sleepy hollow (your head is up for grabs)
In sleepy hollow (fear for your life)
In sleepy hollow (it's you he seeks to find)
In sleepy hollow (beware the night)
When you least expect it
When the horseman strikes
He flies out of the darkness
You sense something's not right
He wields his sword, you hear the steel
He's bearing down on you
You pray to god to spare your life
Then slice, you know you're thru
He's got some heads, now you would think
His nights work was through
Not until the sunrise, will he stop hunting you
His stolen skull must be returned
So he can rest in peace
Until then it seems my friend
You're probably dead meat
Lyrics submitted by Ninji-X
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
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