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.
I was wandering through the streets of the city
Rambling through the avenues of time
When from nowhere my eyes fell onto a girl
And by chance her eyes fell onto mine
So I sat and acted all non-nonchalant
She smoked her lavender cigarette
Reading the future that lay in my hands
My shadow played a bass clarinet
(Where you going with this bret?)
We waltzed down a moonlight boulevard
Just two silhouettes in the mist
(Ah yes)
Days went by and years went by
Moments went by when we kissed
(When was this?)
She said your beard is woven of heartache
And we'll drink for the lonely tonight
And the moon is a horny old drunkard
(Uh bret, could you please move over to your right?)
We drank dandelion wine and we reminisced
About the moment we first met that day
(I'm trying to watch tv)
Then we reminisced about how we first reminisced
(Oh yeah? Sounds a bit gay)
She handed me a broken memory
A keepsake to forever most say?
A brief taste of love is as sweet as any
And with that she made her way
(Oh yeah? What was her name?)
She said her name was a secret
Then she said her name was Cherie
(Was her middle name Cherie
So it's a secret Cherie maybe?)
Mm, maybe
(What'd she look like?)
She looked like a Parisian river
(What dirty?)
She looked like a chocolate eclair
(That's rare)
Her eyes were reflections of eyes
(Oh nice)
And the rainbows danced in her hair
(Aw yeah)
She reminded me of winter's morning
(What frigid?)
Her perfume as eau de toilette
(What's that mean?)
She was comparable to Cleopatra
(Quite old)
She's like Shakespeare's Juliette
(What thirteen?)
The bohemians of Soho did pirouettes
As we waltzed through the streets of Manhattan
On rivers of ribbon and sailboats of song
There's a girl I described she's as real as the wind
It's true I saw her today
The other details are inventions
Because I prefer her that way.
Rambling through the avenues of time
When from nowhere my eyes fell onto a girl
And by chance her eyes fell onto mine
So I sat and acted all non-nonchalant
She smoked her lavender cigarette
Reading the future that lay in my hands
My shadow played a bass clarinet
(Where you going with this bret?)
We waltzed down a moonlight boulevard
Just two silhouettes in the mist
(Ah yes)
Days went by and years went by
Moments went by when we kissed
(When was this?)
She said your beard is woven of heartache
And we'll drink for the lonely tonight
And the moon is a horny old drunkard
(Uh bret, could you please move over to your right?)
We drank dandelion wine and we reminisced
About the moment we first met that day
(I'm trying to watch tv)
Then we reminisced about how we first reminisced
(Oh yeah? Sounds a bit gay)
She handed me a broken memory
A keepsake to forever most say?
A brief taste of love is as sweet as any
And with that she made her way
(Oh yeah? What was her name?)
She said her name was a secret
Then she said her name was Cherie
(Was her middle name Cherie
So it's a secret Cherie maybe?)
Mm, maybe
(What'd she look like?)
She looked like a Parisian river
(What dirty?)
She looked like a chocolate eclair
(That's rare)
Her eyes were reflections of eyes
(Oh nice)
And the rainbows danced in her hair
(Aw yeah)
She reminded me of winter's morning
(What frigid?)
Her perfume as eau de toilette
(What's that mean?)
She was comparable to Cleopatra
(Quite old)
She's like Shakespeare's Juliette
(What thirteen?)
The bohemians of Soho did pirouettes
As we waltzed through the streets of Manhattan
On rivers of ribbon and sailboats of song
There's a girl I described she's as real as the wind
It's true I saw her today
The other details are inventions
Because I prefer her that way.
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This song has a number of similarities to "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)" by Peter Sarstedt. The references to french culture, the sappy lyrics, the acoustic 60's folk style... It seems like they may have been poking fun at that song, or perhaps just the style in general.