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.
Walking on the Chinese
Walking on the Chinese Wall
Watching for the coins to
Watching for the coins to fall
Butterfly spread your painted wings
For an answer from the Ching
By the stream
Stretching in the rocks
Tiger on the mountain-top
Walking on the Chinese Wall
Watching for the coins to fall
Now the sun is rising in the east
Looking for my golden fleece
Ivory skin
Scarlet color deep
Lips that burn but do not speak
Three misty nights waiting by the shore
Maybe that my lover comes no more
Red Chamber Dream from the sky above
Ancient tales of hidden Chinese love
On the Chinese Wall
Watching for the coins to fall
Blue-red silk burning on my chest
Go to sleep but not to rest
Stepping stones on the Yellow sea
Dreaming she'll be there for me
Come down the clouds to the sea of flames
From the mountain hear the cry of pain
Red Chamber Dream from the sky above
Ancient tales of hidden Chinese love
On the Chinese Wall
Watching for the coins to fall
On the Chinese Wall (oh, yeah)
Watching for the coins to fall
On the Chinese Wall (butterfly spread your wings)
For an answer from the Ching, ooh
Watching for the coins to fall (blue-red silk on my chest)
Go to sleep but not to rest, oh no
Walking on the Chinese Wall (on the Chinese Wall)
Walking on the Chinese, walking on the Chinese Wall
(Watching for the coins to fall)
Watching for the coins to fall
Watching for the coins to, watching for the coins to fall
Walking on the Chinese Wall
Watching for the coins to
Watching for the coins to fall
Butterfly spread your painted wings
For an answer from the Ching
By the stream
Stretching in the rocks
Tiger on the mountain-top
Walking on the Chinese Wall
Watching for the coins to fall
Now the sun is rising in the east
Looking for my golden fleece
Ivory skin
Scarlet color deep
Lips that burn but do not speak
Three misty nights waiting by the shore
Maybe that my lover comes no more
Red Chamber Dream from the sky above
Ancient tales of hidden Chinese love
On the Chinese Wall
Watching for the coins to fall
Blue-red silk burning on my chest
Go to sleep but not to rest
Stepping stones on the Yellow sea
Dreaming she'll be there for me
Come down the clouds to the sea of flames
From the mountain hear the cry of pain
Red Chamber Dream from the sky above
Ancient tales of hidden Chinese love
On the Chinese Wall
Watching for the coins to fall
On the Chinese Wall (oh, yeah)
Watching for the coins to fall
On the Chinese Wall (butterfly spread your wings)
For an answer from the Ching, ooh
Watching for the coins to fall (blue-red silk on my chest)
Go to sleep but not to rest, oh no
Walking on the Chinese Wall (on the Chinese Wall)
Walking on the Chinese, walking on the Chinese Wall
(Watching for the coins to fall)
Watching for the coins to fall
Watching for the coins to, watching for the coins to fall
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
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