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.
Well he was Thailand based
She was an airforce wife
He used to fly weekends
It was the easy life
But then it turned around
And he began to change
She didn't wonder then
She didn't think it strange
But then he got a call
He had to leave that night
He couldn't say too much
But it would be alright
He didn't need to pack
They'd meet the next night
He had a job to do
Flying to Cambodia
And as the nights passed by
She tried to trace the past
The way he used to look
The way he used to laugh
I guess she'll never know
What got inside his soul
She couldn't make it out
Just couldn't take it all
He had the saddest eyes
The girl had ever seen
He used to cry some nights
As though he lived a dream
And as she held him close
He used to search her face
As though she knew the truth
Lost inside Cambodia
But then a call came through
They said he'd soon be home
She had to pack a case
And they would make a rendezvous
But now a year has passed
And not a single word
And all the love she knew
Has disappeared out in the haze
(Cambodia, don't cry now, no tears now)
And now the years have passed
With not a single word
But there is only one thing left
I know for sure
She won't see his face again
She was an airforce wife
He used to fly weekends
It was the easy life
But then it turned around
And he began to change
She didn't wonder then
She didn't think it strange
But then he got a call
He had to leave that night
He couldn't say too much
But it would be alright
He didn't need to pack
They'd meet the next night
He had a job to do
Flying to Cambodia
And as the nights passed by
She tried to trace the past
The way he used to look
The way he used to laugh
I guess she'll never know
What got inside his soul
She couldn't make it out
Just couldn't take it all
He had the saddest eyes
The girl had ever seen
He used to cry some nights
As though he lived a dream
And as she held him close
He used to search her face
As though she knew the truth
Lost inside Cambodia
But then a call came through
They said he'd soon be home
She had to pack a case
And they would make a rendezvous
But now a year has passed
And not a single word
And all the love she knew
Has disappeared out in the haze
(Cambodia, don't cry now, no tears now)
And now the years have passed
With not a single word
But there is only one thing left
I know for sure
She won't see his face again
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He returned traumatized, cant talk, is not the same person. He never came back from Cambodia.
Thai based F4 pilot gets shot down, captured,and is never heard from again. In a nutshell.
@Aqarius what about the lines<br /> <br /> "But then a call came through<br /> They said he'd soon be home<br /> She had to pack a case<br /> And they would make a rendez-vous"
I can't believe some of the first few comments on here. Do some research on Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge. The resulting civil war and genocide (a by product of Vietnam) are the horrors the pilot witnessed, not specifically war in general or in particular the Vietnam war which had all but ceased.
@Meadowbrooke Actually he wouldn't have witnessed many horrors at all being several thousand feet up in the air. Aquarius answer is the most likely with the suggestion that he was captured and endured horrific torture before being released and somehow disappeared thereafter. POW/MIA
Cant believe there are no comments for this, I listened to this song for about a week straight I loved it so much! The lyrics are really interesting though. personally I think its quite open ended the meaning isnt overly clear towards the end.
"When it says then he turned around and he began to change" it makes you wonder if he knew his fate and that that arises a whole lot of new questions such as how? what was going on.. etc
" He had the saddest eyes The girl had ever seen He used to cry some nights As though he lived a dream And as she held him close He used to search her face As though she knew the truth Lost inside Cambodia" these are my favourite lyrics in the whole song, actually made me cry one day... And again the whole way through the song is suggesting he knew his fate or atleast what to slightly expect.
I could go on much longer but I'll just say one more thing is the ending "she wont see his face again" I still think it leaves it sort of open ended in which people can sort of interpret what they think happened to him and its also very saddening i find
I have this song as a remix from Pulsedriver, which is pretty good. Very strange premise and ending to the song, especially since there was a little hope with the phone call and then none at the end. I'm thinking he was one of the following:
Sad and somewhat confusing song, but nice as well.
Are you kidding. He doesn't just get shot down, end of story. What about the clear assertion he is about to return but then she doesn't hear anymore about it. What has happened? Has he been found but now doesn't want to be with her, or did it wrong and he didn't make it? The lyric 'she will see his face again' a clear statement that the story is far from over.
Once again a work of subtle genius ignored by the masses.
Actually Aqarius is right. The story is about a P4 pilot. He changes because he sees the horrors of war. According to Kim Wildes brother who wrote the song he was shot down buy a surface to air missile. As for the open ending I too beleive that it relates to his capture and possible release ??? (This is a fictional character not based on anyone in real life...its a story)
Edit....<br /> <br /> And now the years have passed with not a single word <br /> But there is only one thing left I know for sure <br /> She won't see his face again<br /> <br /> More lyrics: lyricsfreak.com/k/kim+wilde/<br />
wilde-life.com/encyclopedia/c/cambodia
The pilot saw things, and probably did things that deeply affected him. Not just bombing or shooting, but something else, something covert. The guilt and horror slowly start to destroy him.
Then he says to "pack a bag", note, only one, and he'll meet her. Clearly he planned on going somewhere with her but why? And if they're going away why not tell her where? Because he was getting away from what he'd done, and possibly telling people about it. He is killed, but there's no mention of the air force telling her what happened.
If he was killed on a mission, even a secret one, you'd expect they'd tell the wife. Swear her to secrecy maybe, but still she'd be told. Otherwise she'd make a fuss and ask where he was, endangering security. But they didn't tell her, because he was probably killed by the people he worked with, to stop him talking.
Well, all interpretations of this beautiful haunting song equal, try this:
She went insane. The story is seen from her crazy POV.
That's what Apop seems to suggest - with great humour youtube.com/watch