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.
Give my car to my girlfriend
Make sure that she don't cry
And give my best friend the crowning prize
Tell him that his Queen should be his bride
Do you remember the time I whispered in your ear
I wish this feeling would four years
Remember the time after the football game
Car breakin' down walkin' home in the rain
You threw off your shirt and said "to hell with that"
I remember that you're crazy like that
Remember me on graduation day
Make sure they call my name
Remember me on graduation
And tell them all I really wanted to be there
Give my best to those who knew me
Can my voice still be heard?
Give yourself a new beginning
And don't forget who we were
Cause the campfire burns like I burn for you
And Johnny's in the fire lighting up his shoe
I slip my cold hands between your legs
As you tell me all the things you waited to say
And I'll drop you a sign every now and then that says
"Someday baby you'll love again"
Remember me on graduation day
Make sure they call my name
Remember me on graduation
And tell them all I really wanted to be there
Do you remember the time I whispered in your ear
I wish this feeling would last four years
Remember the time after the football game
Car breakin' down walkin' home in the rain
And the campfire burns like I burn for you
Johnny's in the fire lighting up his shoe
And I'll drop you a sign every now and then that says
"Someday baby you'll love again"
Remember me on graduation day
Make sure they call my name
Remember me on graduation
And tell them all I really wanted to be there
Tell them all I really wanted to be there
Tell them all I really wanted to be there
Make sure that she don't cry
And give my best friend the crowning prize
Tell him that his Queen should be his bride
Do you remember the time I whispered in your ear
I wish this feeling would four years
Remember the time after the football game
Car breakin' down walkin' home in the rain
You threw off your shirt and said "to hell with that"
I remember that you're crazy like that
Remember me on graduation day
Make sure they call my name
Remember me on graduation
And tell them all I really wanted to be there
Give my best to those who knew me
Can my voice still be heard?
Give yourself a new beginning
And don't forget who we were
Cause the campfire burns like I burn for you
And Johnny's in the fire lighting up his shoe
I slip my cold hands between your legs
As you tell me all the things you waited to say
And I'll drop you a sign every now and then that says
"Someday baby you'll love again"
Remember me on graduation day
Make sure they call my name
Remember me on graduation
And tell them all I really wanted to be there
Do you remember the time I whispered in your ear
I wish this feeling would last four years
Remember the time after the football game
Car breakin' down walkin' home in the rain
And the campfire burns like I burn for you
Johnny's in the fire lighting up his shoe
And I'll drop you a sign every now and then that says
"Someday baby you'll love again"
Remember me on graduation day
Make sure they call my name
Remember me on graduation
And tell them all I really wanted to be there
Tell them all I really wanted to be there
Tell them all I really wanted to be there
Lyrics submitted by ThaFunk105
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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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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I stumbled upon this song while looking up music on LimeWire more then a year ago, and when i organized my songs by amount of plays the other day i realized that this was the most played song. I think its about a kids whos got some type of terminal illness or something... he knows he's gunna die before his graduation. And he just doesn't want to be forgoton even though he can't be there. He doesn't want to be wiped off the face of the earth because he's gone- he wants everyone to know his accomplishements even if he isn't around to celebrate with them.
I agree :) Great song, and a fitting epitaph for the kid it's written about. I saw these guys live, the lead singer Steve gives a bit of backstory about it before they play it. There was a kid in his High School who died of an illness, and the whole school turned out for his funeral, he wrote this as what the kid would have said if he got the chance. I get chills everytime I hear to it :)