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.
Today was your birthday
And I didn't know what do
Are you supposed to call the people you love
When you know they don't love you
Today was your birthday
And I didn't dare to call
But I thought about you all day
Even at midnight I wanted to call
To be honored to be the first one to send you my love
And wish you
Happy hippie birthday
35 candles on a cake
That I will never taste
35 candles blown away
That I picture in my head
35 years old and I'm 22
And I remember when you used to say
That I was young but you didn't care at all
Happy hippie birthday
16 of June 1973 my parents hadn't even met
16 of June 1973 was born the only boy
I can ever love
We're 13 years apart like my parents were
We're 13 years apart and for them it worked out
They had me and my brother
As achievement of their love
They had me and my brother
They had me and my brother
My mother loved my father so
That she would never let him down
My father loved my mother so
That he would never let her down
He loved her until the day he died
She will love him until the day she dies
You could love me until the day you die
'Cause I will love you until the day I die
And even more
And I didn't know what do
Are you supposed to call the people you love
When you know they don't love you
Today was your birthday
And I didn't dare to call
But I thought about you all day
Even at midnight I wanted to call
To be honored to be the first one to send you my love
And wish you
Happy hippie birthday
35 candles on a cake
That I will never taste
35 candles blown away
That I picture in my head
35 years old and I'm 22
And I remember when you used to say
That I was young but you didn't care at all
Happy hippie birthday
16 of June 1973 my parents hadn't even met
16 of June 1973 was born the only boy
I can ever love
We're 13 years apart like my parents were
We're 13 years apart and for them it worked out
They had me and my brother
As achievement of their love
They had me and my brother
They had me and my brother
My mother loved my father so
That she would never let him down
My father loved my mother so
That he would never let her down
He loved her until the day he died
She will love him until the day she dies
You could love me until the day you die
'Cause I will love you until the day I die
And even more
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