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 have a house
Looks out to sea
And this is where he came
The stranger with the face of a man I loved
To the house by the sea
Long time, long time gone
A sort of home
It’s this house
That what’s left of his mind
Seems to have remembered
So what’s left of his mind
Claims the house as his
Though it’s been mine and mine alone since he left me here
He left me here
Half a life ago
But this is where he came
The stranger with the face of a man I loved
In this house
Where the best of our times
I try to remember
And the rest of the time
I try to forget
The times he lied and lied
Before he just left me here
The stranger with the face of a man I loved
In the house by the sea
Long time, long time gone
A sort of home.
Looks out to sea
And this is where he came
The stranger with the face of a man I loved
To the house by the sea
Long time, long time gone
A sort of home
It’s this house
That what’s left of his mind
Seems to have remembered
So what’s left of his mind
Claims the house as his
Though it’s been mine and mine alone since he left me here
He left me here
Half a life ago
But this is where he came
The stranger with the face of a man I loved
In this house
Where the best of our times
I try to remember
And the rest of the time
I try to forget
The times he lied and lied
Before he just left me here
The stranger with the face of a man I loved
In the house by the sea
Long time, long time gone
A sort of home.
Lyrics submitted by stentorian
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