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.
Goodbye circus wheel
May you rest along the sea
I have given you the fire of my youth
And the triumph o're my enemies
Goodbye fair weather home, and your faithless factories
I have given you the blood and the truth
From the wounds they laid onto me
And whatever they left, well, I kept it for my own heart
And the lonesome all understand
With the choirs in my head
And we were orphans before
We were ever the sons of regret
My baby
And on and on and on
The alphabet boys carry on
We were orphans before
We were ever the sons of these songs
And now my lights, they never go down
They waltz the moon and stars for me now
So you can find some local libertine
To take your daughters out on the town
And I can feel it in my aging bones
How the sound of the rain mixes up
Into the fountains where I drank my hero's blood
So I left you to find my very own hat full of rain
And the lonesome all understand
With the choirs in my head
And we were orphans before
We were ever the sons of regret
My baby
And on and on and on
The alphabet boys carry on
We were orphans before
We were ever the sons of these songs
Now I'm trying to keep it straight
Learning all the streets and the alleyways
And learning where they lead
Now that I'm left alone here to drive
But it's so hard to stand on your own
Against mirror of glass, hard and cold
But the clothes I wore
Just don't fit my soul anymore
No the clothes I wore
Just don't fit my soul anymore
And the lonesome all understand
With the choirs in my head
And we were orphans before
We were ever the sons of regret
My baby
And on and on and on
The alphabet boys carry on
We were orphans before
We were ever the sons of these songs
When we were young
We were diamond Sinatras
Like something I saw in a dream
We kept our secrets in rooms
Locked up tight like a tomb
Where the ballerinas lay
May you rest along the sea
I have given you the fire of my youth
And the triumph o're my enemies
Goodbye fair weather home, and your faithless factories
I have given you the blood and the truth
From the wounds they laid onto me
And whatever they left, well, I kept it for my own heart
And the lonesome all understand
With the choirs in my head
And we were orphans before
We were ever the sons of regret
My baby
And on and on and on
The alphabet boys carry on
We were orphans before
We were ever the sons of these songs
And now my lights, they never go down
They waltz the moon and stars for me now
So you can find some local libertine
To take your daughters out on the town
And I can feel it in my aging bones
How the sound of the rain mixes up
Into the fountains where I drank my hero's blood
So I left you to find my very own hat full of rain
And the lonesome all understand
With the choirs in my head
And we were orphans before
We were ever the sons of regret
My baby
And on and on and on
The alphabet boys carry on
We were orphans before
We were ever the sons of these songs
Now I'm trying to keep it straight
Learning all the streets and the alleyways
And learning where they lead
Now that I'm left alone here to drive
But it's so hard to stand on your own
Against mirror of glass, hard and cold
But the clothes I wore
Just don't fit my soul anymore
No the clothes I wore
Just don't fit my soul anymore
And the lonesome all understand
With the choirs in my head
And we were orphans before
We were ever the sons of regret
My baby
And on and on and on
The alphabet boys carry on
We were orphans before
We were ever the sons of these songs
When we were young
We were diamond Sinatras
Like something I saw in a dream
We kept our secrets in rooms
Locked up tight like a tomb
Where the ballerinas lay
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Great version of a great song,
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Such a great song, one small change though, pretty sure it's
"I have given you the fight of my youth"
There's also a couple things I'm unsure of:
The first couple times he sings "the sons of your songs" it sounds more like "son in your songs". But hte last time near the end it's definitely "sons of your songs"
Lastly, the last line sounds like "Where ballerinas lay"
Probably my favorite song on American Slang, it's fantastic. "We were orphans before we were ever the sons of regret."
The lyrics overall are spot on save for a few minor words.
"Well I have given you the fire of my youth"
"They waltz the moon and the stars for me now"
"So I left you to find my very own hatful of rain"
I agree with the "fire of my youth" and also,
I thought the line was "rebellious sons of regret."
I quite like the reference to Del Amitri in this song. Definitely one of my favorite Gaslight Anthem songs.
What is the Del Amitri reference?<br /> <br /> Great song--similar themed to many of their other ones, with some vivid metaphors.
I think it's about being lost and in pain before finding music, and the meaning in the music and relating to it hence being "the son of the song."
I think this song has a similar theme as 'stay lucky'. He has moved away from his hometown, doesn't know where he is or where he is going. This feeling of 'being lost' is mirrored in his struggle to write.
I especially like the lyric 'And I can feel it in my aging bones, how the sound of the rain mixes up Into the fountains where I drank my hero's blood' I think this may mean that now he has matured and moved town, he is struggling to define his sound cause the sound is mixed up whilst he is trying to emulate his influences or 'hero's'.
To me it felt like he was talking about leaving his old town because he just couldn't stand it. Lots of people get like that sure it's your roots but sometimes to thrive you need to move on. I have a deep connection with this song. being stuck where I am I'm sick of bumping into old flames and people I knew. A change of scenery and a fresh start are a must and from that song I felt that way! Btw still love all gaslights albums it all has wondrous meaning and to me like a good book I start to relate and ponder life events. :-p