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.
What happened up on Hemmingway
Well. we will never change
You used to be a friend of mine
The last 5 years went past so fast
So fast I find it strange
The beneficial medicine of time
And I
I can hear your laughter
It stays with me after
All this time
And I
I still got your records
Clash and The Selecter
And don’t worry Desmond Dekker's doing fine.
But doors were shut
The lines were cut
The walls went up so quick
The windows of opportunity were small
Brides collide
Divides were wide
Sides we had to pick
And oh yeah, I forgot to call
I
I can hear your laughter
It stays with me after
All this time
And I
I still got your records
Clash and The Selecter
And don’t worry Desmond Dekker's doing fine.
Seeds to the roots to the trunk to the truth
It’s understanding when it first began
In the day up to the sky
And we climbed up so high
And we carried on the only way we can
Laugh on and live
Learn how to forgive
What we have could be as good as what we get
If you forgot
Now I am still gone
What you gave to me way back when we first met
What you gave to me way back when we first met
I
I can hear your laughter
It stays with me after
All this time
And I
I still got your records
Clash and The Selecter
And don’t worry Desmond Dekker's doing
fine
I
I still got your records
Clash and The Selecter
and don’t worry Desmond Dekker's doing fine.
Well. we will never change
You used to be a friend of mine
The last 5 years went past so fast
So fast I find it strange
The beneficial medicine of time
And I
I can hear your laughter
It stays with me after
All this time
And I
I still got your records
Clash and The Selecter
And don’t worry Desmond Dekker's doing fine.
But doors were shut
The lines were cut
The walls went up so quick
The windows of opportunity were small
Brides collide
Divides were wide
Sides we had to pick
And oh yeah, I forgot to call
I
I can hear your laughter
It stays with me after
All this time
And I
I still got your records
Clash and The Selecter
And don’t worry Desmond Dekker's doing fine.
Seeds to the roots to the trunk to the truth
It’s understanding when it first began
In the day up to the sky
And we climbed up so high
And we carried on the only way we can
Laugh on and live
Learn how to forgive
What we have could be as good as what we get
If you forgot
Now I am still gone
What you gave to me way back when we first met
What you gave to me way back when we first met
I
I can hear your laughter
It stays with me after
All this time
And I
I still got your records
Clash and The Selecter
And don’t worry Desmond Dekker's doing
fine
I
I still got your records
Clash and The Selecter
and don’t worry Desmond Dekker's doing fine.
Lyrics submitted by CFaz23
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I also think it's about what CFaz23 said at the same time.