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.
Tonight
my assistant
will pass among
you
His cap
will be empty
Hey non-e
non-e
The most intimate
personal choices
and requests
central to your
personal dignity
will be sung
Hey non-e
non-e
Why don't minstrels
go from house
to house
howling songs
the way they
used to?
In vain I
bind another
foot
In vain
and now
the other
foot
LULLABY
LA LA
You can tell
My sweet
little darling
My comfort
and joy
LULLABY
LA LA
You can tell
In beauty
surpassing
are prince's
of Troy
Some are born
to it
You can tell
Some are made
to do it
Some allowed
When I
LULLABY
LA LA
LULLABY
LA LA
Tonight
my assistant
will hear the canals
of Mars
His cap
will be empty
Hey non-e
non-e
The most intimate
personal choices
and requests
central to your
personal dignity
will be sung
Hey non-e
non-e
Why don't painters
paint their cloudy
spines
chiaroscuro
the way they
used to?
In vain I
douse
another lamp
In vain
and now
another lamp
LULLABY
LA LA
You can tell
My sweet
little darling
my comfort
and joy
LULLABY
LA LA
You can tell
In beauty
surpassing
are prince's
of Troy
Some are born
to it
You can tell
Some are made
to do it
Some allowed
When I
LULLABY
LA LA
LULLABY
LA LA
Tonight
my assistant
will pass among
you
His cap
will be empty
The most intimate
personal choices
and requests
central to your
personal autonomy
will be sung
my assistant
will pass among
you
His cap
will be empty
Hey non-e
non-e
The most intimate
personal choices
and requests
central to your
personal dignity
will be sung
Hey non-e
non-e
Why don't minstrels
go from house
to house
howling songs
the way they
used to?
In vain I
bind another
foot
In vain
and now
the other
foot
LULLABY
LA LA
You can tell
My sweet
little darling
My comfort
and joy
LULLABY
LA LA
You can tell
In beauty
surpassing
are prince's
of Troy
Some are born
to it
You can tell
Some are made
to do it
Some allowed
When I
LULLABY
LA LA
LULLABY
LA LA
Tonight
my assistant
will hear the canals
of Mars
His cap
will be empty
Hey non-e
non-e
The most intimate
personal choices
and requests
central to your
personal dignity
will be sung
Hey non-e
non-e
Why don't painters
paint their cloudy
spines
chiaroscuro
the way they
used to?
In vain I
douse
another lamp
In vain
and now
another lamp
LULLABY
LA LA
You can tell
My sweet
little darling
my comfort
and joy
LULLABY
LA LA
You can tell
In beauty
surpassing
are prince's
of Troy
Some are born
to it
You can tell
Some are made
to do it
Some allowed
When I
LULLABY
LA LA
LULLABY
LA LA
Tonight
my assistant
will pass among
you
His cap
will be empty
The most intimate
personal choices
and requests
central to your
personal autonomy
will be sung
Lyrics submitted by sokorny
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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