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.
The streets are empty.
Inside it's warm.
His hands are shaking.
They locked the door.
A voice is calling,
asking to get in.
All he wanted was a toy.
All he needed was a gentle heart
to lead him through the dark
when his dreams are running wild.
Boy and the ghost,
fire's not burning.
The lights went out,
the lights went out.
Big family dinner, the untold pain.
Their eyes are sparkling
on his frozen face.
Angel's calling,
asking to get in.
All he wanted was a toy.
All he needed was a gentle heart
to lead him through the dark
when there's nowhere left to fall.
Boy and the ghost.
His eyes are burning.
The lights went out.
The dream is on.
Wake up, wake up:
there's an angel in the snow.
Look up, look:
it's a frightened dead boy,
with so much hate,
such bad dreams.
He could have seen.
The toy's the key,
but no one saw,
no one saw.
no one saw.
All he wanted was a toy;
all he needed was a beating heart
to lead him through the dark.
Boy and the ghost.
Despero, solitas, debilis, desolo.
Despero, solitas, debilis, desolo.
When there's nowhere left to fall,
nowhere to hide.
The silence is hurting.
Inside it's cold.
Sleep or die.
Nowhere to go,
nowhere to hide.
His light went out.
Inside it's warm.
His hands are shaking.
They locked the door.
A voice is calling,
asking to get in.
All he wanted was a toy.
All he needed was a gentle heart
to lead him through the dark
when his dreams are running wild.
Boy and the ghost,
fire's not burning.
The lights went out,
the lights went out.
Big family dinner, the untold pain.
Their eyes are sparkling
on his frozen face.
Angel's calling,
asking to get in.
All he wanted was a toy.
All he needed was a gentle heart
to lead him through the dark
when there's nowhere left to fall.
Boy and the ghost.
His eyes are burning.
The lights went out.
The dream is on.
Wake up, wake up:
there's an angel in the snow.
Look up, look:
it's a frightened dead boy,
with so much hate,
such bad dreams.
He could have seen.
The toy's the key,
but no one saw,
no one saw.
no one saw.
All he wanted was a toy;
all he needed was a beating heart
to lead him through the dark.
Boy and the ghost.
Despero, solitas, debilis, desolo.
Despero, solitas, debilis, desolo.
When there's nowhere left to fall,
nowhere to hide.
The silence is hurting.
Inside it's cold.
Sleep or die.
Nowhere to go,
nowhere to hide.
His light went out.
Lyrics submitted by SharaelCherin
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