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.
There was a boy who wandered
Travelled the oceans wide
Followed the constellations
They kept telling me I'd be just fine
They kept telling me I'd be just fine
Boy of the mapless sea
Called to the birds above
Followed the tides of the moon
She kept telling me I'd be just fine
She kept telling me I'd be just fine
Oh... oh... oh...
Well, the boy had a shadow
He followed it all the way
It whispered to him at night
Keep on rowing and you'll be just fine
Keep on rowing and you'll be just fine
Follow the silver lights
That shine beneath the waves
Swim down to the bottom
Keep on swimming and you'll be just fine
Keep on swimming and you'll be just fine
Oh... oh... oh...
When he got to the bottom
There was nothing to find
Broken boats and bottles
Swim back up and you'll be just fine
Swim back up and you'll be just fine
So the boy left his shadow
Beneath the rolling sea
All the waves were singing
Keep on rowing and you'll be just fine
Keep on rowing and you'll be just fine
Oh... oh... oh...
Calling out, tearing at the darkness
Calling out, slipping through a memory
Calling out, swallowed by a shadow
Calling out, out across the morning
Calling out, tearing at the darkness
Calling out, slipping through a memory
Calling out, swallowed by a shadow
Calling out, out across the morning
Calling out, tearing at the darkness
Calling out, slipping through a memory
Calling out, swallowed by a shadow
Calling out, out across the morning
Calling out, tearing at the darkness
Calling out, slipping through a memory
Calling out, swallowed by a shadow
Calling out, out across the morning
Oh... oh... oh...
Travelled the oceans wide
Followed the constellations
They kept telling me I'd be just fine
They kept telling me I'd be just fine
Boy of the mapless sea
Called to the birds above
Followed the tides of the moon
She kept telling me I'd be just fine
She kept telling me I'd be just fine
Oh... oh... oh...
Well, the boy had a shadow
He followed it all the way
It whispered to him at night
Keep on rowing and you'll be just fine
Keep on rowing and you'll be just fine
Follow the silver lights
That shine beneath the waves
Swim down to the bottom
Keep on swimming and you'll be just fine
Keep on swimming and you'll be just fine
Oh... oh... oh...
When he got to the bottom
There was nothing to find
Broken boats and bottles
Swim back up and you'll be just fine
Swim back up and you'll be just fine
So the boy left his shadow
Beneath the rolling sea
All the waves were singing
Keep on rowing and you'll be just fine
Keep on rowing and you'll be just fine
Oh... oh... oh...
Calling out, tearing at the darkness
Calling out, slipping through a memory
Calling out, swallowed by a shadow
Calling out, out across the morning
Calling out, tearing at the darkness
Calling out, slipping through a memory
Calling out, swallowed by a shadow
Calling out, out across the morning
Calling out, tearing at the darkness
Calling out, slipping through a memory
Calling out, swallowed by a shadow
Calling out, out across the morning
Calling out, tearing at the darkness
Calling out, slipping through a memory
Calling out, swallowed by a shadow
Calling out, out across the morning
Oh... oh... oh...
Lyrics submitted by dustspins
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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