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.
Now and then it keeps you running
It never seems to die
The trail's spent with fear
Not enough living on the outside
Never seem to get far enough
Staying in between the lines
Hold on to what you can
Waiting for the end
Not knowing when
May the wind take your troubles away
May the wind take your troubles away
Both feet on the floor, two hands on the wheel
May the wind take your troubles away
Trying to make it far enough, to the next time zone
Few and far between past the midnight hour
You never feel alone, you're really not alone
Switching it over to AM
Searching for a truer sound
Can't recall the call letters
Steel guitar and settle down
Catching an all-night station somewhere in Louisiana
It sounds like 1963, but for now it sounds like heaven
May the wind take your troubles away
May the wind take your troubles away
Both feet on the floor, two hands on the wheel
May the wind take your troubles away
May the wind take your troubles away
May the wind take your troubles away
It never seems to die
The trail's spent with fear
Not enough living on the outside
Never seem to get far enough
Staying in between the lines
Hold on to what you can
Waiting for the end
Not knowing when
May the wind take your troubles away
May the wind take your troubles away
Both feet on the floor, two hands on the wheel
May the wind take your troubles away
Trying to make it far enough, to the next time zone
Few and far between past the midnight hour
You never feel alone, you're really not alone
Switching it over to AM
Searching for a truer sound
Can't recall the call letters
Steel guitar and settle down
Catching an all-night station somewhere in Louisiana
It sounds like 1963, but for now it sounds like heaven
May the wind take your troubles away
May the wind take your troubles away
Both feet on the floor, two hands on the wheel
May the wind take your troubles away
May the wind take your troubles away
May the wind take your troubles away
Lyrics submitted by Yoshiidino
Windfall Lyrics as written by Jay Farrar
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"Switching it over to AM Searching for a truer sound Can't recall the call letters Steel guitar and settle down Catching an all-night station somewhere in Louisiana It sounds like 1963, but for now it sounds like heaven"
Probably my favorite six lines of lyrics of any song ever written. And I believe I know the inspiration for it.
Farrar and his wife were living in New Orleans at the time he wrote most of TRACE (her job brought them here). During that time he would frequent a guitar shop on Oak Street that I also used to check guitars out at. He traveled back and forth by car from New Orleans to St. Louis and back during that time. The above-lines in "Windfall" I'm pretty sure refer to 870 WWL-AM radio station that for a jillion years had an all-night truckers show that played country music from the late 50's and early 60s. It was all steel guitar and pre-Beatles country music - nothing even remotely resembling modern country was ever played. WWL-AM had incredible range and I know people in the mid-west could easily pick it up. Its a long drive from St. Louis to New Orleans and I've no doubt those lines in "Windfall" were inspired by late night drives to and fro listening to the all-night truckers show on 87- WWL-AM.
Very cool.
P.S. The more recent Son Volt song "Pushed Too far" also has some wonderful lyrics about Farrar's time living in New Orleans and checking out music at Rock N Bowl.
@Rickvee thanks for the insight. Just saw them at First Avenue in Minneapolis last night. Great show. Of course they played this song.