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.
Walking on thin ice
Im paying the price
For throwing the dice in the air
Why must we learn it the hard way
And play the game of life with your heart?
I gave you my knife
You gave me my life
Like a gush of wind in my hair.
Why do we forget whats been said
And play the game of life with our hearts?
I may cry some day
But the tears will dry whichever way
And when our hearts return to ashes
It will be just a story
It will be just a story
I knew a girl who tried to walk across the lake
course it was winter when all this was ice
Thats a hell of a thing to do, you know
They say the lake is as big as the ocean
I wonder if she knew about it?
Im paying the price
For throwing the dice in the air
Why must we learn it the hard way
And play the game of life with your heart?
I gave you my knife
You gave me my life
Like a gush of wind in my hair.
Why do we forget whats been said
And play the game of life with our hearts?
I may cry some day
But the tears will dry whichever way
And when our hearts return to ashes
It will be just a story
It will be just a story
I knew a girl who tried to walk across the lake
course it was winter when all this was ice
Thats a hell of a thing to do, you know
They say the lake is as big as the ocean
I wonder if she knew about it?
Lyrics submitted by Blackened
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this song was actually written by yoko, with john belting out those power chords throughout. they finished recording it hours before he was murdered, and in fact john was carrying the tapes in his hands and they were scattered across the entrance to the dakota when he collapsed. considering what happened just hours after recording the lyrics "i may cry someday, but the tears will dry whichever way, and when our hearts return to ashes, it'll be just a story" assume a meaning she could not possibly have intended. and if yoko is the "girl who tried to walk across a lake" (and of course she is) then perhaps she's commenting on her experience as mrs john lennon ("you gave me my life, like a gush of wind in my hair") which was anything but bliss. and if the lake she tried to walk across is a metaphor for the whole "beatle experience" then the fact that "it was winter and covered with ice" is especially interesting. "they say the lake is as big as the ocean" (as indeed it must have seemed!) the very fact that she even tried to cross it at all is indeed "a hell of a thing to do" and we all can "wonder if she knew about it" before she took that first step. anyone hear elvis costello's version of this? its excellent. think what you want about yoko. the song rocks!
Yoko: When I went to Chicago with John, I don’t know why we went. I was shown Lake Michigan. I think it was written in brochures, or somebody told us, “It’s as big as an ocean.” I was inspired by Lake Michigan to write “Walking On Thin Ice” [from 1982 album Walking on Thin Ice]. Listen to it at the end, when I’m saying, “As big as an ocean.” Where else is there a lake that’s as big as an ocean? I think it’s very unique. I saw this beautiful, beautiful lake all iced up and this girl was walking… this girl, meaning me, probably.