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.
Hey Mona Lisa, who was Leonardo?
Was he Andy Warhol? Were you Marilyn Monroe?
He Mozart, what kind of name is Amadeus?
It's kinda like Elvis, you gotta die to be famous.
I may not go down in history, I just want someone to remember me.
I'll probably never hold a brush that paints a masterpiece.
I'll probably never find a pen that writes a symphony.
But if I will love, then I will find that I have touched another life and that's something,
Something worth leaving behind.
Hey Midas, they say you had the golden touch, but even all that shiny stuff,
Some day's gonna turn to dust.
Hey Jesus, it must have been some Sunday mornin',
In a blaze of glory, we're still telling your story.
I may not go down in history, I just want someone to remember me.
I'll probably never dream a dream and watch it turn to gold.
I know I'll never lose my life to save another soul.
But if I will love, then I will find that I have touched another life and that's something,
Something worth leaving behind.
Hey baby, see the future that we're building?
Our love lives on, in the lives of our children.
And that's something, something worth leaving behind.
Was he Andy Warhol? Were you Marilyn Monroe?
He Mozart, what kind of name is Amadeus?
It's kinda like Elvis, you gotta die to be famous.
I may not go down in history, I just want someone to remember me.
I'll probably never hold a brush that paints a masterpiece.
I'll probably never find a pen that writes a symphony.
But if I will love, then I will find that I have touched another life and that's something,
Something worth leaving behind.
Hey Midas, they say you had the golden touch, but even all that shiny stuff,
Some day's gonna turn to dust.
Hey Jesus, it must have been some Sunday mornin',
In a blaze of glory, we're still telling your story.
I may not go down in history, I just want someone to remember me.
I'll probably never dream a dream and watch it turn to gold.
I know I'll never lose my life to save another soul.
But if I will love, then I will find that I have touched another life and that's something,
Something worth leaving behind.
Hey baby, see the future that we're building?
Our love lives on, in the lives of our children.
And that's something, something worth leaving behind.
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i thought that jodee messina sung that. hmmm...