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.
It must be the colors
And the kids
That keep me alive
'Cause the music is boring me to death
It must just be the colors
And the kids that keep me alive
'Cause I'd want to go right away
To a January night
I built a shack with an old friend
He was someone I could learn from
Someone I could become
Will you meet me down
On a sandy beach
We can roll up our jeans
So the tide won't get us below the knees
Yellow hair
You are a funny bear
Yellow hair
You are such a funny bear
Slender fingers
Would hold me slender limbs would hold me
And you could say my name
Like you knew my name
I could stay here
Become someone different
I could stay here
Become someone better
It's so hard to go in the city
'Cause you want to say hello to everybody
It's so hard to go into the city
'Cause you want to say hey I love you to everybody
When we were teenagers we wanted to be the sky
Now all we want to do is go to red places
And try to stay outta hell
It must be the colors
And the kids
That keep me alive
'Cause the music is boring me to death
It must just be the colors
And it must just be the kids
That keep me alive on this January night.
Yellow hair
You are a funny bear
Yellow hair
You are such a funny bear
And the kids
That keep me alive
'Cause the music is boring me to death
It must just be the colors
And the kids that keep me alive
'Cause I'd want to go right away
To a January night
I built a shack with an old friend
He was someone I could learn from
Someone I could become
Will you meet me down
On a sandy beach
We can roll up our jeans
So the tide won't get us below the knees
Yellow hair
You are a funny bear
Yellow hair
You are such a funny bear
Slender fingers
Would hold me slender limbs would hold me
And you could say my name
Like you knew my name
I could stay here
Become someone different
I could stay here
Become someone better
It's so hard to go in the city
'Cause you want to say hello to everybody
It's so hard to go into the city
'Cause you want to say hey I love you to everybody
When we were teenagers we wanted to be the sky
Now all we want to do is go to red places
And try to stay outta hell
It must be the colors
And the kids
That keep me alive
'Cause the music is boring me to death
It must just be the colors
And it must just be the kids
That keep me alive on this January night.
Yellow hair
You are a funny bear
Yellow hair
You are such a funny bear
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intothegrinder2, I love that quote it's so sweet. AWWW.
Anyway, I always end up singing this song to myslef when I'm walking on the beach alone. It's soothing and peaceful.