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.
The 1800s, before the inception
Of modern day ideals
Fake grip of appeals
Straight to the street run, no barroom virgin
Double vision, cocaine
To a whorehouse of pain
New Orleans is a dying whore
Naked she sleeps on my floor
New Orleans is a dying whore
The spreading highway
To the underwater staircase
Leading up to a black room
To leave there you're a fool
Mob world politics
So broke it can't fix
Trapped in a time zone
There's no place like home
New Orleans is a dying whore
If ?? break down the door
New Orleans is a dying whore
New Orleans is a dying whore
Stripped down and beat to the floor
New Orleans is a dying whore
New Orleans is a dying whore
Blood covered, stuck to my floor
New Orleans is a dying whore
Of modern day ideals
Fake grip of appeals
Straight to the street run, no barroom virgin
Double vision, cocaine
To a whorehouse of pain
New Orleans is a dying whore
Naked she sleeps on my floor
New Orleans is a dying whore
The spreading highway
To the underwater staircase
Leading up to a black room
To leave there you're a fool
Mob world politics
So broke it can't fix
Trapped in a time zone
There's no place like home
New Orleans is a dying whore
If ?? break down the door
New Orleans is a dying whore
New Orleans is a dying whore
Stripped down and beat to the floor
New Orleans is a dying whore
New Orleans is a dying whore
Blood covered, stuck to my floor
New Orleans is a dying whore
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Magical
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How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
ive never been to NOLA but Phil sure makes it sound like a bigger shithole than my town, or maybe a comparrison to...
Still wanna go man. Always wanted to see a warzone...
au contraire! NOLA is alive and well. philip's description is kinda...iunno...accurate, an understatement, and bullshit all at once.
This is such an awesome song live :) And New Orleans is a pretty awesome city.........Will be heading there to see them in concert, my third time , his last date in the US....
Leslie in Southern Louisiana
I agree with others that his description of NOLA is accurate. I was just there this past summer and while I think NOLA is a great city and I fell in love with the place, you do get the feeling it is a dying whore.
i think the part of the chorus with a question mark is "if you're not seen, break down the door"