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.
Make me a deal and make it straight
All signed and sealed, I'll take it
To Robert E Lee I'll show it
I hope and pray he don't blow it 'cause
We've been around a long time just try try try tryin' to
Make the big time
Take me on a roller coaster
Take me for an airplane ride
Take me for a six day wander but don't you
Don't you throw my pride aside besides
What's real and make believe
Baby Jane's in Acapulco we are flyin' down to Rio
Throw me a line I'm sinking fast
Clutching at straws can't make it
Havana sound we're trying
Hard edge the hipster jiving
Last picture shows down the drive-in
You're so sheer, you're so chic
Teenage rebel of the week
Flavors of the mountain streamlines
Midnight blue casino floors
Dance the cha-cha through till sunrise
Opens up exclusive doors, oh wow
Just like flamingos look the same
So me and you, just we two, got to search for something new
Far beyond the pale horizon
Some place near the desert strand
Where my Studebaker takes me
That's where I'll make my stand but wait
Can't you see that Holzer mane?
What's her name, Virginia Plain?
All signed and sealed, I'll take it
To Robert E Lee I'll show it
I hope and pray he don't blow it 'cause
We've been around a long time just try try try tryin' to
Make the big time
Take me on a roller coaster
Take me for an airplane ride
Take me for a six day wander but don't you
Don't you throw my pride aside besides
What's real and make believe
Baby Jane's in Acapulco we are flyin' down to Rio
Throw me a line I'm sinking fast
Clutching at straws can't make it
Havana sound we're trying
Hard edge the hipster jiving
Last picture shows down the drive-in
You're so sheer, you're so chic
Teenage rebel of the week
Flavors of the mountain streamlines
Midnight blue casino floors
Dance the cha-cha through till sunrise
Opens up exclusive doors, oh wow
Just like flamingos look the same
So me and you, just we two, got to search for something new
Far beyond the pale horizon
Some place near the desert strand
Where my Studebaker takes me
That's where I'll make my stand but wait
Can't you see that Holzer mane?
What's her name, Virginia Plain?
Lyrics submitted by Forevergreen
Virginia Plain Lyrics as written by Bryan Ferry
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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As previously stated, this song is about the glam lifestyles of the young jet-setting rich and fashionable. From travels to Rio and Acapulco, dancing the cha-cha on blue casino floors and then getting bored with it and looking for what's next ("So me and you, just we two got to search for something new").
To quote Zoolander: "Oh yeah? I've never even heard of it. Me and my friends have been been too busy bathing off the southern coast of St. Barts with spider monkeys for the past two weeks. Tripping on acid changed our whole perspective on shit. So, I guess, uh, I guess you can dere-lick my balls, capitan."
And lastly - my guess is that the Robert E Lee thing was a non sequitur not intended to make any sense to anyone.