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.
Don't bother grandma 'cause she's right
Or you'll be in some mess
I see how you see her, creaky bones,
Bitchin' 'bout IRS
Well take a look child, through this photo album
Just think they'd used to sell out a baseball stadium
Nineteen forty-eight
Well now you'll graduate and you think
You're going to move out now
I will congratulate you as soon
As you pay your own way
Not tryin' to stick a pin in your shiny new balloon
Your alimony check won't buy a bigger room
Or a new car
Don't ever think about comin' 'round here
With that junior from up the street
His sneakers squeakin' on the kitchen tile,
Hat pulled below his eyes
That boy is trouble in his sleep
You got your father's wreckless charm, babe
Long as you givin', some body take
Well, every story is not the gospel, babe
Let me put it in another way
Every valley is not a lake
Before I let you go with your friends,
Got one more thing to say
You think my love is tough, should've seen
Your grandma in her day
Oh, use your wits child,
'Cause nothing stays the same
In forty years my song will be public domain
Oh oh oh
Sharp top, quick switch
Sharp top, quick switch
Well make
My own apology bad
Or you'll be in some mess
I see how you see her, creaky bones,
Bitchin' 'bout IRS
Well take a look child, through this photo album
Just think they'd used to sell out a baseball stadium
Nineteen forty-eight
Well now you'll graduate and you think
You're going to move out now
I will congratulate you as soon
As you pay your own way
Not tryin' to stick a pin in your shiny new balloon
Your alimony check won't buy a bigger room
Or a new car
Don't ever think about comin' 'round here
With that junior from up the street
His sneakers squeakin' on the kitchen tile,
Hat pulled below his eyes
That boy is trouble in his sleep
You got your father's wreckless charm, babe
Long as you givin', some body take
Well, every story is not the gospel, babe
Let me put it in another way
Every valley is not a lake
Before I let you go with your friends,
Got one more thing to say
You think my love is tough, should've seen
Your grandma in her day
Oh, use your wits child,
'Cause nothing stays the same
In forty years my song will be public domain
Oh oh oh
Sharp top, quick switch
Sharp top, quick switch
Well make
My own apology bad
Lyrics submitted by jooce, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Every Valley Is Not a Lake Lyrics as written by Matthew Aveiro Jonathan Russell
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
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.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
love this song. so catchy.
now, they posted the lyrics on one of their pictures, AFTER i had posted these.
some corrections: She sang to sailors in the war, baseball stadiums in 1948
Every sermon is not the gospel babe
Sharp tongue, quick switch