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.
There is a spring not far from here
The water runs both sweet and clear
Both sweet and clear, and cold
Could crack your bones
With veins of gold
I stood, a-wagging, at the tap
Just a-waiting on the lagging, rising sap
I held the cold tin ladle to my lip
At the Shrine of the Thousand Arms I lowered my eyes to sip
What a beautiful day to catch my drift
Or be caught up in it
You want your love, Love?
Come and get your love
I only took it back
Because I thought you didn't
How my ears did ring
At the municipal pound
From that old hangdog
To which I was bound
Curled 'round the bottom rung
Doesn't anybody want you?
Well, come on, darlin'
I could use someone like you around
I am not like you
I ain't from this place
And I do reserve the right to repeat all my same mistakes
And, in the night, like you
I certainly bite and chew
What I can find
And never seem to lose the taste
What a horrible face
I feel me make
For Pete's sake
What you have told me, I cannot erase
Though I keep on saying and I do believe
It is not too late
All day, you're hassling me with trifles
Black nose of the dog
as cold as a rifle
Indicating, with a nudge
God, no God, God, no God
Sweet, appraising eye of the dog
Blink once if God, twice if no God
My mama may be ashamed of me
With all of my finery
Carrying on
Whooping it up till the early morn'
Lost and lorn among the madding revelry
Sure, I can pass
Honey, I can pass
Particularly when I start to tip my glass
I'll be a sport
And have a go at that old song singing unabashed
'Bout them city girls with their ribbon bows
And their fancy sash'
But, though I get so sad
Could swear the night makes a motion to claim me
Around that second verse
I reckon and I've felt worse
And still held fast
But, later on, when I am alone
Alone at last
Well I take my God to task
I take my doggone God to task
The water runs both sweet and clear
Both sweet and clear, and cold
Could crack your bones
With veins of gold
I stood, a-wagging, at the tap
Just a-waiting on the lagging, rising sap
I held the cold tin ladle to my lip
At the Shrine of the Thousand Arms I lowered my eyes to sip
What a beautiful day to catch my drift
Or be caught up in it
You want your love, Love?
Come and get your love
I only took it back
Because I thought you didn't
How my ears did ring
At the municipal pound
From that old hangdog
To which I was bound
Curled 'round the bottom rung
Doesn't anybody want you?
Well, come on, darlin'
I could use someone like you around
I am not like you
I ain't from this place
And I do reserve the right to repeat all my same mistakes
And, in the night, like you
I certainly bite and chew
What I can find
And never seem to lose the taste
What a horrible face
I feel me make
For Pete's sake
What you have told me, I cannot erase
Though I keep on saying and I do believe
It is not too late
All day, you're hassling me with trifles
Black nose of the dog
as cold as a rifle
Indicating, with a nudge
God, no God, God, no God
Sweet, appraising eye of the dog
Blink once if God, twice if no God
My mama may be ashamed of me
With all of my finery
Carrying on
Whooping it up till the early morn'
Lost and lorn among the madding revelry
Sure, I can pass
Honey, I can pass
Particularly when I start to tip my glass
I'll be a sport
And have a go at that old song singing unabashed
'Bout them city girls with their ribbon bows
And their fancy sash'
But, though I get so sad
Could swear the night makes a motion to claim me
Around that second verse
I reckon and I've felt worse
And still held fast
But, later on, when I am alone
Alone at last
Well I take my God to task
I take my doggone God to task
Lyrics submitted by mutinyinheaven_x
Ribbon Bows Lyrics as written by Joanna Newsom
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I have some corrections, but a note that I'm not entirely sure about them either (they're in caps):
i held the COLD TIN LID up to my lip at the shrine of a thousand arms, MY LORD, my eyes DO SIT
you want your love? LOVE, come and get your love i only took it back because i thought you DID
how my ears did ring at the municipal pound AT that OLD HANGDOG toOoOoOoOoOoO WHICH I WAS BOUND CURL ROUND THE FIRE OF LOVE WHEN NOBODY WANTS YOU well come on darlin i could use someone like you around
i am not like you i aint from this place and i do reserve the right to repeat ALL OF my same MISTAKES but in the night LIKE YOU I'LL CERTAINLY BITE AND CHEW well i can find i never seem to lose the taste
what a horrible face I FEEL ME MAKE
all day you hassle me with TRIFLES black nose of the dog as cold as a rifle INDICATING WITH A NUDGE GOD NO GOD GOD NO GOD sweet APPRAISING eye of the dog BLINK ONCE IF GOD TWICE IF NO GOD
MY MOMMA MAY BE ashamed of me with all of my finery carrying on WHOOPING IT ON to the early morn lost alone among the maddening revelry SHOOT I CAN PASS honey i CAN pass particularly when i STOP TO TIP MY GLASS
i'll be a sport and have a go at that old song SINGING UNABASHED about THE city girls with the ribbon bows
well i take my god to task i take my DOGGONE god to task.
Cheers!