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.
Odds and ends of love that used to be
You're gone, but memories linger on
Odds and ends of what you meant to me
Love that we once knew, dreams that never quite came true
A tiny ring made of glass
Worth more to me than the world
A picture of you and me
When I was your special girl
An old teddy bear that's lost its hair
You won at the county fair
A redneck tie I bought for you
You never got around to wear
Momentoes of the love we shared
Reminders of the hurt I felt
Odds and ends of love that used to be
You're gone, but memories linger on
Odds and ends of what you meant to me
Love that we once knew, dreams that never quite came true
The easy chair, the robe you wore
When you came home at night
Your last pack of cigarettes
Your first old chewed-up pipe
The sound of a dripping faucet
You claimed that you repaired
The first dress you bought me
That I forced myself to wear
A little girl, a little boy too
Who constantly ask where are you
Odds and ends of love that used to be
Odds and ends, it wasn't meant to be
Momentoes of the love we shared
Reminders of the hurt I felt
Odds and ends of love that used to be
You're gone, but memories linger on
Odds and ends of what you meant to me
You're gone, but memories linger on
Odds and ends of love
You're gone, but memories linger on
Odds and ends of what you meant to me
Love that we once knew, dreams that never quite came true
A tiny ring made of glass
Worth more to me than the world
A picture of you and me
When I was your special girl
An old teddy bear that's lost its hair
You won at the county fair
A redneck tie I bought for you
You never got around to wear
Momentoes of the love we shared
Reminders of the hurt I felt
Odds and ends of love that used to be
You're gone, but memories linger on
Odds and ends of what you meant to me
Love that we once knew, dreams that never quite came true
The easy chair, the robe you wore
When you came home at night
Your last pack of cigarettes
Your first old chewed-up pipe
The sound of a dripping faucet
You claimed that you repaired
The first dress you bought me
That I forced myself to wear
A little girl, a little boy too
Who constantly ask where are you
Odds and ends of love that used to be
Odds and ends, it wasn't meant to be
Momentoes of the love we shared
Reminders of the hurt I felt
Odds and ends of love that used to be
You're gone, but memories linger on
Odds and ends of what you meant to me
You're gone, but memories linger on
Odds and ends of love
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Odds and Ends Lyrics as written by Gregory S. Perry General N. Johnson
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.