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.
My mercury's in retrograde
My mercury's in retrograde
My mercury's in retrograde
My mercury's in retrograde
Mercury's in, Mercury's in, Mercury's
In retrograde
This is not the time, the time to start a new love
This is not the time, the time to sign a lease
Try not to worry about what's forgotten
Try not to worry about what's been missed
Scars on shins and scars on my knuckles
Today I woke up in a basketball court
Jonjo's in Sydney and he ain't returning
I'm sitting in Soho trying to stay drunk
In any bar in the world
From Silverlake to Williamsburg
You could pick another stranger
And fall in love
My mercury's in retrograde
Mercury's in, mercury's in retrograde
This is not the time, the tie to start a new love
This is not the time, the time to sign a lease
Try not to worry about what's forgotten
Try not to worry about what's been missed
Bleeding gums and veins protruding
You're starting to hate all of your clothes
Neumayr's in LA and she ain't returning
I'm sleeping with people I don't even like
In any bar in the world
From Silverlake to Williamsburg
You could pick another stranger
And fall in love
My mercury's in retrograde
Mercury's in, mercury's in retrograde
Mercyry's in, mercury's in retrograde
When I saw you last night
I wanted to say, run away with me
Away from these cynics
That this could be the start of
Something truly real
But all that I could say was "hey"
Was hey
Was hey
Was hey
My mercury's in retrograde
Mercury's in, mercury's in retrograde
Mercyry's in, mercury's in retrograde
My mercury's in retrograde
Mercury's in, mercury's in retrograde
Mercyry's in, mercury's in retrograde.
My mercury's in retrograde
My mercury's in retrograde
My mercury's in retrograde
Mercury's in, Mercury's in, Mercury's
In retrograde
This is not the time, the time to start a new love
This is not the time, the time to sign a lease
Try not to worry about what's forgotten
Try not to worry about what's been missed
Scars on shins and scars on my knuckles
Today I woke up in a basketball court
Jonjo's in Sydney and he ain't returning
I'm sitting in Soho trying to stay drunk
In any bar in the world
From Silverlake to Williamsburg
You could pick another stranger
And fall in love
My mercury's in retrograde
Mercury's in, mercury's in retrograde
This is not the time, the tie to start a new love
This is not the time, the time to sign a lease
Try not to worry about what's forgotten
Try not to worry about what's been missed
Bleeding gums and veins protruding
You're starting to hate all of your clothes
Neumayr's in LA and she ain't returning
I'm sleeping with people I don't even like
In any bar in the world
From Silverlake to Williamsburg
You could pick another stranger
And fall in love
My mercury's in retrograde
Mercury's in, mercury's in retrograde
Mercyry's in, mercury's in retrograde
When I saw you last night
I wanted to say, run away with me
Away from these cynics
That this could be the start of
Something truly real
But all that I could say was "hey"
Was hey
Was hey
Was hey
My mercury's in retrograde
Mercury's in, mercury's in retrograde
Mercyry's in, mercury's in retrograde
My mercury's in retrograde
Mercury's in, mercury's in retrograde
Mercyry's in, mercury's in retrograde.
Lyrics submitted by true.love.way
Mercury Lyrics as written by Kele Okereke Gordon Moakes
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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 know exactly what you're saying bpb07. I was actually shocked at how much everyone hates this, than again, I really shouldn't have been.
People don't appreciate music anymore. It's a kind of, "If it's not the new ringtone than it's pure shit," ideology. The music industry's going down hill, and there's nothing we can do but watch it burn. sad.