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.
People I know, places I go
Make me feel tongue tied
But I can see how people look down
They're on the inside
Here's where the story ends
People I see, weary of me
Showing my good side
I can see how people look down
I'm on the outside
Here's where the story ends
Ooh, here's where the story ends
It's that little souvenir of a terrible year
Which makes my eyes feel sore
Oh, I never should have said the books that you read
Were all I loved you for
It's that little souvenir of a terrible year
Which makes me wonder why
It's the memories of your shed that make me turn red
Surprise, surprise, surprise
Crazy I know, places I go
Make me feel so tired
And I can see how people look down
I'm on the outside
Oh, here's where the story ends
Ooh, here's where the story ends
It's that little souvenir of a terrible year
Which makes my eyes feel sore
And who ever would've thought the books that you brought
Were all I loved you for
Oh, the devil in me said, "Go down to the shed"
I know where I belong
But the only thing I ever really wanted to say
Was wrong, was wrong, was wrong
It's that little souvenir of a colorful year
Which makes me smile inside
So I cynically, cynically say the world is that way
Surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise
Here's where the story ends
Ooh, here's where the story ends
Make me feel tongue tied
But I can see how people look down
They're on the inside
Here's where the story ends
People I see, weary of me
Showing my good side
I can see how people look down
I'm on the outside
Here's where the story ends
Ooh, here's where the story ends
It's that little souvenir of a terrible year
Which makes my eyes feel sore
Oh, I never should have said the books that you read
Were all I loved you for
It's that little souvenir of a terrible year
Which makes me wonder why
It's the memories of your shed that make me turn red
Surprise, surprise, surprise
Crazy I know, places I go
Make me feel so tired
And I can see how people look down
I'm on the outside
Oh, here's where the story ends
Ooh, here's where the story ends
It's that little souvenir of a terrible year
Which makes my eyes feel sore
And who ever would've thought the books that you brought
Were all I loved you for
Oh, the devil in me said, "Go down to the shed"
I know where I belong
But the only thing I ever really wanted to say
Was wrong, was wrong, was wrong
It's that little souvenir of a colorful year
Which makes me smile inside
So I cynically, cynically say the world is that way
Surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise
Here's where the story ends
Ooh, here's where the story ends
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Here's Where the Story Ends Lyrics as written by Harriet Ella Wheeler David Richard Gavurin
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this song isn't about a particularly serious relationship, but rather something the character viewed as more of a fling. I understand the shed to be a brief sexual encounter. I think the souvenir in question is an actual book. The souvenir makes her eyes sore, not from crying, but perhaps in a more literal sense of looking at it too long, thinking about what happened. She loved the guy this song is about, not in a literal sense, but in a she was interested in him sense. After all it was only for his books, so it couldn't have been real love. She liked him because of his taste in books, but all she really wanted in the end was the brief sexual encounter. He must have thought there was more to it, and was heart broken when he realized it wasn't. The shame the character feels is from everyone hearing from that guy what she did to him, and her probably feeling somewhat guilty about it. She has "a reputation" now. By the song's end however, she's over it and doesn't care what the rest of the world thinks. She's ready to put the experience behind her and move on. She had sex with a guy she didn't really care about. So what.