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.
She yells,
"If you were homeless, sure as hell you'd be drunk
Or high or trying to get there or begging for junk
When the people don't want you they just throw you money for beer"
Her name was November she went by Autumn or Fall
It was seven long years since the Autumn when all
Of her nightmares grew fingers
And all of her dreams grew tears
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
And she's somebody's baby still
She screams,
"Well if you've never gone it alone
Well then go ahead, you better throw the first stone"
You got one lonely stoner waiting to bring to her knees
She dreams about Heaven, remembering hell
As the nightmare she visits and knows all too well
Every now and again
When she's sober she brushes her teeth
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
And she's somebody's baby still
Today was her birthday, strangely enough
When the cops found her body at the foot of the bluff
The anonymous caller this morning tipped off the police
They got her ID from the dental remains
The same fillings intact, the same nicotine stains
The birth and the death were both over
With no one to grieve
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
And she's somebody's baby still
She's somebody's baby still
"If you were homeless, sure as hell you'd be drunk
Or high or trying to get there or begging for junk
When the people don't want you they just throw you money for beer"
Her name was November she went by Autumn or Fall
It was seven long years since the Autumn when all
Of her nightmares grew fingers
And all of her dreams grew tears
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
And she's somebody's baby still
She screams,
"Well if you've never gone it alone
Well then go ahead, you better throw the first stone"
You got one lonely stoner waiting to bring to her knees
She dreams about Heaven, remembering hell
As the nightmare she visits and knows all too well
Every now and again
When she's sober she brushes her teeth
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
And she's somebody's baby still
Today was her birthday, strangely enough
When the cops found her body at the foot of the bluff
The anonymous caller this morning tipped off the police
They got her ID from the dental remains
The same fillings intact, the same nicotine stains
The birth and the death were both over
With no one to grieve
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
And she's somebody's baby still
She's somebody's baby still
Lyrics submitted by Loona3
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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The chord change between "Autumn when all/Of her nightmares grew fingers" gave me chills the first time I heard the song. The coaction between the lyrical story and the guitar work is amazingly powerful.
The story is straightforward as to its meaning. I don't think there is any question about that. It is extremely refreshing to find that amidst all of the sexual exploitation of women rampant in our culture today, someone has the heart to see that women aren't just sex things. It really makes me think twice when I see women portrayed this way. I know that I wouldn't want anyone looking at my daughter or sister that way, but somehow because of the lack of this connection it becomes acceptable. Even the drugee or prostitute you would never think twice about is somebody's baby.