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.
Melody Lee, a broken mind and a broken dream
I bust the speed to change your heart
Your life was cruel they called it art
Melody Lee, you need a mirror to set you free
It won't be kinda cheap tomorrow
If you hide any sorrow
Melody Lee, you gotta find your secret enemy
You're on the road with nowhere to go
If you die someone to know
Forget your heart, you need not stay
A second longer than today
I bust the speed to change your heart
Your life was cruel they called it art
Melody Lee, you need a mirror to set you free
It won't be kinda cheap tomorrow
If you hide any sorrow
Melody Lee, you gotta find your secret enemy
You're on the road with nowhere to go
If you die someone to know
Forget your heart, you need not stay
A second longer than today
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death, edited by TVeye77, mROCKSTONE
Melody Lee Lyrics as written by Christopher John Millar Alasdair Mackie Ward
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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To summarise lol. Melody Lee appeared in the British kids comic (think The Beano not Superman) Bunty. A young dancer who was being trained by a scarred ex-pro dancer. Fantasticly creepy really. Despite being popular she was dropped from the book and Captain Sensible and his girlfriend were protesting the same day as the Sid Vicious concert (not at it).
The song was written by taking lines straight from the speech bubbles and caption boxes of the Melody Lee strip. So the song is actually about the character.
This information brought to you from the Machine Gun Etiquette CD re-issue's booklet.
I like the piano intro to this song, Dave isn't it?
you know I don't actually know, last time I saw them play it live Monty Oxy Moron played it, but he wasnt'a round back during Machine Gun Etiquette's day i don't think.
sweet intro.
Written by the Captain, He wrote this song from the exact words in a comic he read often.
i heard that this one was about vanian's girlfriend being upset because her fave character in bunty was being dropped.
the Captains girlfriend, not Daves, and it wasnt just her, Sensible was too. In fact, they both were protesting the character being dropped at Sid Vicious's White Kids show.
Lyrics from Sensible: Melody Lee, a broken mind and a broken dream / A burst of speed a change of heart / Your life was cruel, they called it art / Melody Lee, you need a mirror to set you free / You know you can't cheat tomorrow, if you hide it'll end in sorrow / Melody Lee, you gotta find your secret enemy / You're on the run with nowhere to go / If you die there's no one to know / Forget your heart, you need not stay / A second longer than today