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.
Can't tell you the truth
'least I don't lie about that
A kind of comfort in you
comes when you lie right back
Safe from such a strange point of view
To hear your own words on you
I’m onto you; go to be gone
You are any way the wind blows
Any way the wind blows in
Don't wanna come down too low
Any way the wind blows
Any way the wind blows in
Any way the wind blows in
Similar creatures we are
Chasing the pipe dream down
Love's elusive so far
Keeps us divided now
Go, go on and write me love songs
So I have something to sing when you're gone
I’m onto you; go to be gone
You are any way the wind blows
Any way the wind blows in
Don't wanna come down too low
Any way the wind blows
Any way the wind blows in
Don't wanna come down
Do you know the way
To be in one place but sway
Any way the winds blow in
You are love
You are monsters and angels
Untouched and unseen
All in one
I take all that you are
Cause you're just like me
But you move and it's hard
To stay close to a satellite
So I lose sight of you
Till you come round again
I'm watching the wind
Hey ay, hey ay, ay
Anyway the winds blow in
How much do you go to be gone
You are any way the wind blows
Any way the wind blows in
Don't wanna come down too low
Any way the wind blows
Any way the wind blows in
Any way the wind blows in
Don't wanna come down
Do you know the way
To be in one place but stay
Any way the winds blow in
Any way the winds blow in
Any way the winds blow in
'least I don't lie about that
A kind of comfort in you
comes when you lie right back
Safe from such a strange point of view
To hear your own words on you
I’m onto you; go to be gone
You are any way the wind blows
Any way the wind blows in
Don't wanna come down too low
Any way the wind blows
Any way the wind blows in
Any way the wind blows in
Similar creatures we are
Chasing the pipe dream down
Love's elusive so far
Keeps us divided now
Go, go on and write me love songs
So I have something to sing when you're gone
I’m onto you; go to be gone
You are any way the wind blows
Any way the wind blows in
Don't wanna come down too low
Any way the wind blows
Any way the wind blows in
Don't wanna come down
Do you know the way
To be in one place but sway
Any way the winds blow in
You are love
You are monsters and angels
Untouched and unseen
All in one
I take all that you are
Cause you're just like me
But you move and it's hard
To stay close to a satellite
So I lose sight of you
Till you come round again
I'm watching the wind
Hey ay, hey ay, ay
Anyway the winds blow in
How much do you go to be gone
You are any way the wind blows
Any way the wind blows in
Don't wanna come down too low
Any way the wind blows
Any way the wind blows in
Any way the wind blows in
Don't wanna come down
Do you know the way
To be in one place but stay
Any way the winds blow in
Any way the winds blow in
Any way the winds blow in
Lyrics submitted by sarararawr, edited by Paul123456
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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,
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how can nobody have commented on this song? it's pure genius and once again Sara proves she can pretty much do anything.
In my opinion this song is about a person she loves who is unpredictable and unreliable. But she can't stop loving this person even though it gets really difficult at times, so she's patient and waits for change even though she knows it won't happen.
The sound is great. It's haunting and as always the lyrics are amazing.
haha i agree. this song is amazing. i love the sound and the lyrics.. very catchy yet very meaningful.
i guess it's just a hard song to get your hands on if you're not aware there is a japan version.
To me, this song elicits imagery of two lovers addressing each other in a chaotic dust storm. They know that they lie to each other, and that who they define as themselves to the other is worth as much as a myth. In such a fashion, they know not what to rely upon except the stories and 'love songs' they give to each other. After all, reality requires 'such a strange point of view' that it reduces the individual! Where is the fun in that?
To me, this song is about an individual who sees that the person she cares about still isn't really comfortable in his skin. he struggles with his own reality...and his identity is as stable as "any way the winds are blowing"...an ultimately empty place.
When she states,
"You are love You are monsters and angels Untouched and unseen All in one I take all that you are Cause you're just like me But you move and it's hard"
she's acknowledging that there is a lot of good, and bad, of course, within him that she and even he can't be certain about, and she struggles to try to understand and embrace this.
and until he learns to "be in one place but sway", it will be "any way the winds blow in"
a amazingly beautiful song...and I can relate a lot.
Superb song! How is it I've never heard of it before?
The line "How much do you go to be gone" doesn't sound quite right to me, but I can't pinpoint what it actually is. My best guess is "I'm on till you go to be gone".
@greencarver i agree with "I'm on till you go to be gone". it's what i always understood.