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.
When I first escaped the city of York
And leapt out of this cage
No silicon chip could sublimate
Or tame this temptuous rage
When my heart was in the attic
Like the picture of Dorian Gray
I was rescued by the enemy
That dare not speak it's name
Say hello to your future
I'm just pleased to meet you
You were a million miles away
Say hello to your lion's heart
Queen Victoria's England
Will never ever be the same
Giddy up!
When I left the warm surroundings
Of my selfish difficult stage
When our eyes first met there was deja-vu
And a feeling I could not shake
Then gravity seduced me
And drew me to this place
I could swear we were together
In an entirely different age
Say hello to your future
I'm just pleased to meet you
You were a million miles away
Say hello to your lion's heart
Queen Victoria's England
Will never ever be the same
So wonderfully good looking
With fine and delicate lines
If I place this face in carbon freeze
It will never be affected by time
She said "Don't confuse your beauty
With the insolence of youth.
You can move through time in one direction.
Sad but it's the truth"
But it took so long to meet you
But it took so long to meet you
It took so long to meet you
It's time to go
It's time to leave
You should never have come
Get back to the craft
Get back to your age
Take somebody with you
Giddy up!
Say hello to your future
I'm just pleased to meet you
You were a million miles away
Say hello to your lion's heart
Queen Victoria's England
Will never ever be the same
Say hello to your future
I'm just pleased to meet you
You were a million miles away
Say hello to your lion's heart
Queen Victoria's England
Will never ever be the same
And leapt out of this cage
No silicon chip could sublimate
Or tame this temptuous rage
When my heart was in the attic
Like the picture of Dorian Gray
I was rescued by the enemy
That dare not speak it's name
Say hello to your future
I'm just pleased to meet you
You were a million miles away
Say hello to your lion's heart
Queen Victoria's England
Will never ever be the same
Giddy up!
When I left the warm surroundings
Of my selfish difficult stage
When our eyes first met there was deja-vu
And a feeling I could not shake
Then gravity seduced me
And drew me to this place
I could swear we were together
In an entirely different age
Say hello to your future
I'm just pleased to meet you
You were a million miles away
Say hello to your lion's heart
Queen Victoria's England
Will never ever be the same
So wonderfully good looking
With fine and delicate lines
If I place this face in carbon freeze
It will never be affected by time
She said "Don't confuse your beauty
With the insolence of youth.
You can move through time in one direction.
Sad but it's the truth"
But it took so long to meet you
But it took so long to meet you
It took so long to meet you
It's time to go
It's time to leave
You should never have come
Get back to the craft
Get back to your age
Take somebody with you
Giddy up!
Say hello to your future
I'm just pleased to meet you
You were a million miles away
Say hello to your lion's heart
Queen Victoria's England
Will never ever be the same
Say hello to your future
I'm just pleased to meet you
You were a million miles away
Say hello to your lion's heart
Queen Victoria's England
Will never ever be the same
Lyrics submitted by darrenhayesfan18
The Future Holds a Lion's Heart Lyrics as written by Robert Conley Darren Hayes
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great version of a great song,
I like how "Say hello to your lion's heart." may refer to a lion's heart being about bravery, taking a new step or how it always reminds me of the name "Richard the Lionheart" so it's like a reference to Darren's Richard whom he sees as his future.
Well, apparently in this one Darren Hayes is on another time traveling adventure. This time back to Victorian England, to visit some lover, and this song really gets across to the listener that Darren is now openly gay. That is of course if you know where to look. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a 1891 book published by Oscar Wilde. The book has a strong homosexuality theme. The lines after it are a reference to "Love that dare not speak it's name" a phrase from the 1894 poem "Two Loves" by Lord Alfred Douglas, generally used as a euphemism for homosexuality. This phrase was also mentioned at Oscar Wilde's gross indecency trial. And guess what, both were published during the reign of Queen Victoria. Coincidence...I think not!
As Darren's said, the main basis of this song was making the huge decision to move from America to England to be with Richard, his now-hubby. Also the fact that he felt like he'd been with Richard in another time and place, and had lived in England before too.
Nice pick-up on the Alfred Douglas reference, that one flew right by me!
this song has the coolest synthesizers. it always gets me pumped.
I love the imagery in this song! And it's a pretty good coming out song, as well. (Although he was obviously already out when it was written).
Also... there is no such word as 'temptuous' >.< Well urban dictionary refers it to something that is tempting or it could be a malapropism about tempestuous - something violent, turbulant. So either way it'll be a fit way to define his emotions.