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.
So tenderly
Your story is
Nothing more
Than what you see
Or
What you've done
Or will become
Standing strong
Do you belong
In your skin
Just wondering
Gentle now
The tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
My Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engine hums
And bitter dreams
Grow
Heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
Realign all
The stars
Above my head
Warning signs
Travel far
I drink instead
On my own
Oh, how I've known
The battle scars
And worn out beds
Gentle now
A tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
A Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engines hum
And bitter dreams
Grow
Heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
These streets
Are old
They shine
With the things
I've known
And breaks
Through
The trees
Their sparkling
Your world
Is nothing more
Than all
The tiny things
You've left
Behind
So tenderly
Your story is
Nothing more
Than what you see
Or
What you've done
Or will become
Standing strong
Do you belong
In your skin
Just wondering
Gentle now
A tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
The Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engines hum
And bitter dreams
Grow
A heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
May I be
So bold and stay
I need someone
To hold
That shudders
My skin
Their sparkling
Your world
Is nothing more
Than all
The tiny things
You've left
Behind
So realign
All the stars
Above my head
Warning signs
Travel far
I drink instead
On my own
Oh
How I've known
The battle scars
And worn out beds
Gentle now
A tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
The Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engines hum
And better dreams
Grow
Heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
Your story is
Nothing more
Than what you see
Or
What you've done
Or will become
Standing strong
Do you belong
In your skin
Just wondering
Gentle now
The tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
My Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engine hums
And bitter dreams
Grow
Heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
Realign all
The stars
Above my head
Warning signs
Travel far
I drink instead
On my own
Oh, how I've known
The battle scars
And worn out beds
Gentle now
A tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
A Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engines hum
And bitter dreams
Grow
Heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
These streets
Are old
They shine
With the things
I've known
And breaks
Through
The trees
Their sparkling
Your world
Is nothing more
Than all
The tiny things
You've left
Behind
So tenderly
Your story is
Nothing more
Than what you see
Or
What you've done
Or will become
Standing strong
Do you belong
In your skin
Just wondering
Gentle now
A tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
The Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engines hum
And bitter dreams
Grow
A heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
May I be
So bold and stay
I need someone
To hold
That shudders
My skin
Their sparkling
Your world
Is nothing more
Than all
The tiny things
You've left
Behind
So realign
All the stars
Above my head
Warning signs
Travel far
I drink instead
On my own
Oh
How I've known
The battle scars
And worn out beds
Gentle now
A tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
The Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engines hum
And better dreams
Grow
Heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
Lyrics submitted by Peyton2015
Gran Torino Lyrics as written by Jamie Cullum Clint Eastwood
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Oh man..... What a beautiful song. Full of beauty and bittersweetness.
Jamie sings it just perfectly, with the right amount of melancholy.
For me this is an instant classic and a beautiful ending to the Eastwood movie.
"The world is nothing more than all the tiny things you've left behind..."