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'm just a singer, a natural born guitar ringer
Kind of a clinger to sad old songs
I'm not a walk behinder, I'm a new note finder
But my name's a reminder of a blues man that's already gone
So I started drinkin', took some things that messed up my thinkin'
I was sure sinkin' when you came along
I was alone in the hot lights, not too much left in sight
But she changed all that one night when she sang me this song
Hey baby, I love you, hey baby, I need you
Hey baby, you ain't got to prove to me you're some kind of macho man
You've wasted so much of your life runnin' through the dark nights
Let me shine some love light down on the blues man
I got so sick from speedin', all the steps they said I was needing
If I was to keep on pleasing all of my fans
I got cuffed on dirt roads, I got sued over no shows
But she came and took all that old load down off of this blues man
Hey baby, I love you too, hey baby, I need you
Hey baby, I do get tired of this traveling band
I'm thirty years old now, nights would be cold now
If you hadn't stuck it out with this blues man
I'm thirty years old now, nights sure would be cold now
If you haven't hung around with this blues man
Kind of a clinger to sad old songs
I'm not a walk behinder, I'm a new note finder
But my name's a reminder of a blues man that's already gone
So I started drinkin', took some things that messed up my thinkin'
I was sure sinkin' when you came along
I was alone in the hot lights, not too much left in sight
But she changed all that one night when she sang me this song
Hey baby, I love you, hey baby, I need you
Hey baby, you ain't got to prove to me you're some kind of macho man
You've wasted so much of your life runnin' through the dark nights
Let me shine some love light down on the blues man
I got so sick from speedin', all the steps they said I was needing
If I was to keep on pleasing all of my fans
I got cuffed on dirt roads, I got sued over no shows
But she came and took all that old load down off of this blues man
Hey baby, I love you too, hey baby, I need you
Hey baby, I do get tired of this traveling band
I'm thirty years old now, nights would be cold now
If you hadn't stuck it out with this blues man
I'm thirty years old now, nights sure would be cold now
If you haven't hung around with this blues man
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
The Blues Man Lyrics as written by Hank Jr. Williams
Lyrics © BOCEPHUS MUSIC INC
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