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.
The thunder of the hooves of Indian ponies
Wild with running, beautiful as light
Flash into my dreams along the prairie
The hero Sioux, the spirits of the night
With buffalo who used to roam the mountains
Through the canyons, through the wind-blown grass
Hooves that beat past swiftly running rivers
And sounds of centuries like breaking glass
Shot from trains and shot from painted horses
Shot down running in their murdered fear
Gone before the quarter of the century
Leaving nothing but the sound of tears
Starving in their trails of blood and sorrow
Ancient creatures innocent of crime
Manifest in destiny they flounder
Like the wandering footsteps of the blind
Sundown, sunrise
Sundown, sunrise
All the sainted tribes and missionaries
All the wagon trains of yearning hearts
Testify to madness and to bloodshed
Among the buffalo as time departs
Alas, for murdering the dreams of warriors
Women, children sleep in innocence
Fires raged across the burning deserts
Let the tears of history commence
Sundown, sunrise
Sundown, sunrise
May the pioneers plant in their gardens
Among the bones of dreamers by the creek
Where they somehow found the peace of silence
With no maddening secrets they could keep
The thunder of the hooves of Indian ponies
Wild with running, beautiful as light
Flash into my dreams along the prairie
The hero Sioux, Comanches of the night
Arapahoe, the Nez Perce of the night
The Cherokee, spirits of the night
Sundown, sunrise
Sundown, sunrise
Wild with running, beautiful as light
Flash into my dreams along the prairie
The hero Sioux, the spirits of the night
With buffalo who used to roam the mountains
Through the canyons, through the wind-blown grass
Hooves that beat past swiftly running rivers
And sounds of centuries like breaking glass
Shot from trains and shot from painted horses
Shot down running in their murdered fear
Gone before the quarter of the century
Leaving nothing but the sound of tears
Starving in their trails of blood and sorrow
Ancient creatures innocent of crime
Manifest in destiny they flounder
Like the wandering footsteps of the blind
Sundown, sunrise
Sundown, sunrise
All the sainted tribes and missionaries
All the wagon trains of yearning hearts
Testify to madness and to bloodshed
Among the buffalo as time departs
Alas, for murdering the dreams of warriors
Women, children sleep in innocence
Fires raged across the burning deserts
Let the tears of history commence
Sundown, sunrise
Sundown, sunrise
May the pioneers plant in their gardens
Among the bones of dreamers by the creek
Where they somehow found the peace of silence
With no maddening secrets they could keep
The thunder of the hooves of Indian ponies
Wild with running, beautiful as light
Flash into my dreams along the prairie
The hero Sioux, Comanches of the night
Arapahoe, the Nez Perce of the night
The Cherokee, spirits of the night
Sundown, sunrise
Sundown, sunrise
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Prairie Dream Lyrics as written by Judy Collins
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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