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.
How can I tell you
That I love you
I love you
But I can't think of right words to say
I long to tell you
That I'm always thinking of you
I'm always thinking of you
But my words just blow away
Just blow away
It always ends up to one thing, honey
And I can't think of right words to say
Wherever I am girl
I'm always walking with you
I'm always walking with you
But I look and you're not there
Whoever I'm with
I'm always, always talking to you
I'm always talking to you
And I'm sad that you can't hear
Sad that you can't hear
It always ends up to one thing, honey
When I look and you're not there
I need to know you
Need to feel my arms around you
Feel my arms around you
Like a sea around a shore
Each night and day I pray
In hope that I might find you
In hope that I might find you
Because heart's can do no more
Can do no more
It always ends up to one thing, honey
Still I kneel upon the floor
How can I tell you
That I love you
I love you
But I can't think of right words to say
I long to tell you
That I'm always thinking of you
I'm always thinking of you
It always ends up to one thing, honey
And I can't think of right words to say
That I love you
I love you
But I can't think of right words to say
I long to tell you
That I'm always thinking of you
I'm always thinking of you
But my words just blow away
Just blow away
It always ends up to one thing, honey
And I can't think of right words to say
Wherever I am girl
I'm always walking with you
I'm always walking with you
But I look and you're not there
Whoever I'm with
I'm always, always talking to you
I'm always talking to you
And I'm sad that you can't hear
Sad that you can't hear
It always ends up to one thing, honey
When I look and you're not there
I need to know you
Need to feel my arms around you
Feel my arms around you
Like a sea around a shore
Each night and day I pray
In hope that I might find you
In hope that I might find you
Because heart's can do no more
Can do no more
It always ends up to one thing, honey
Still I kneel upon the floor
How can I tell you
That I love you
I love you
But I can't think of right words to say
I long to tell you
That I'm always thinking of you
I'm always thinking of you
It always ends up to one thing, honey
And I can't think of right words to say
Lyrics submitted by H-bomb, edited by Hipnoticed
How Can I Tell You Lyrics as written by Yusuf Islam
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I like the re-dub by Cat Powers for the de Beers holiday commercial where a man sneaks to a window, gets a necklace and comes to bed, places it on her neck and pretends to sleep again.
She only sings "How can I tell you that I love you, I love you but I can't think of right words to say I long to tell you that I'm always thinking of you I'm always thinking of you, but my words" in the commercial and never re-recorded the whole song. So you cannot get it on itunes or other.
But I think she did the song justice with more emphasis and beauty of her voice than Cat Stevens did.