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.
Picture yourself
Set up for good in a whole other life
In the mystery zone
Make us a house
Some far away town
Where nobody will know us well
Where your dad's not around
And all the trouble you look for all your life
You will find it for sure
In the mystery zone
Times that we met
Before we met
Times that we met
We'll go there
To the mystery zone
Ah the mystery zone
There goes the rider
At gates of dawn
He takes no prisoners at all
He'll be there on his own
What gets him gone
Off down that road
Is something he don't understand
Ooh! The mystery zone
Maybe all he wants
Maybe all he needs
Is to know that the sun don't set
On the mystery zone
How come it feels so familiar
When you never been there?
How come it seems so unreachable
You never tried to find
Never tired to find the mystery zone
Mystery zone, oooh!
All of the people
You used to run into but never do now
They took off for the mystery zone
And when you know love
When you find it for real
It contains the emotion sense of
Everyone ready
Your cover was blown
You weren't there but you were
Ooh in the mystery zone
You weren't there but you were
You weren't there but you were
Openin' windows
Doors never close it's the fresh air fiend
It's the information troll
We'll pack a bag
Sendin' it off just some things that never fit right
To the m
And we'll send it ahead as a test so we'll know
Call it up when it gets there
"What's it like in the mystery zone?"
The times that we met
Before we met
We'll go back there
Oh, times that we met
We'll go back
We'll go back there
The mystery zone
To the mystery zone
The mystery zone
Oh the mys
Set up for good in a whole other life
In the mystery zone
Make us a house
Some far away town
Where nobody will know us well
Where your dad's not around
And all the trouble you look for all your life
You will find it for sure
In the mystery zone
Times that we met
Before we met
Times that we met
We'll go there
To the mystery zone
Ah the mystery zone
There goes the rider
At gates of dawn
He takes no prisoners at all
He'll be there on his own
What gets him gone
Off down that road
Is something he don't understand
Ooh! The mystery zone
Maybe all he wants
Maybe all he needs
Is to know that the sun don't set
On the mystery zone
How come it feels so familiar
When you never been there?
How come it seems so unreachable
You never tried to find
Never tired to find the mystery zone
Mystery zone, oooh!
All of the people
You used to run into but never do now
They took off for the mystery zone
And when you know love
When you find it for real
It contains the emotion sense of
Everyone ready
Your cover was blown
You weren't there but you were
Ooh in the mystery zone
You weren't there but you were
You weren't there but you were
Openin' windows
Doors never close it's the fresh air fiend
It's the information troll
We'll pack a bag
Sendin' it off just some things that never fit right
To the m
And we'll send it ahead as a test so we'll know
Call it up when it gets there
"What's it like in the mystery zone?"
The times that we met
Before we met
We'll go back there
Oh, times that we met
We'll go back
We'll go back there
The mystery zone
To the mystery zone
The mystery zone
Oh the mys
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
I love this song .. definitely my fav song from the album.
I think it's about how people search for the unknown to fill a perceived hole they have in themselves. i.e. "once I lose this extra weight, THEN I'll be happy!"; "once I find the perfect girl (or guy), THEN I'll be happy!", or the perfect house, location, job, etc. Often it can be an undefined longing for something that feels out of reach ... a lot of people feel this way, I think, which is sad.
My favorite line is "times that we met, before that we met". Also "you weren't there, but you were" ... it perfectly describes that deja vu longing that keeps returning. People often repeat this pattern in relationships or keep making the same mistakes because they don't know what's really driving them .. like "the rider" in the song, chasing "something he don't understand".
Fucking great song, and the music fits it perfectly. The main motif sounds like something out of an old 60's horror or mystery film.