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.
Go on, you know you're only one
Set me free
You take me up and turn around
But let me in
Take this shadow from my eyes
And tell me everything
Take the desert from my soul
And lift me up from down below
Let me take some pride in your creation
Cause I have lived alone in castles that were lonely
And I have cursed the dawn and wondered why I do
Well I have wondered why I live
Now I know you must forgive
Let me stand inside your magic shadow
The night is coming faster
And you're feeling all unchained
In the north there is a jungle
Where rockets are aflame
And I hope that in the desert
There are ships and there is noise
And above the greatest city
There will shine a magic shadow
And a voice
It's taking long but I'm getting strong as I grow old
Please believe me let the magic reach me and I will unfold
I'll step aboard with you onday
And see my dust just melt away
And then I'll step inside your magic shadow
dreamers...
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhh
magic shadows
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhhh
Have you seen, have you seen
Have you seen, have you seen
Have you seen, have you seen
Have you seen, have you seen magic shadows
Have you seen, have you seen magic shadows
Have you seen, have you seen magic shadows
Have you seen, have you seen magic shadows...
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhhh
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhhh
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhhh
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhhh
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhhh
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhhh...
Set me free
You take me up and turn around
But let me in
Take this shadow from my eyes
And tell me everything
Take the desert from my soul
And lift me up from down below
Let me take some pride in your creation
Cause I have lived alone in castles that were lonely
And I have cursed the dawn and wondered why I do
Well I have wondered why I live
Now I know you must forgive
Let me stand inside your magic shadow
The night is coming faster
And you're feeling all unchained
In the north there is a jungle
Where rockets are aflame
And I hope that in the desert
There are ships and there is noise
And above the greatest city
There will shine a magic shadow
And a voice
It's taking long but I'm getting strong as I grow old
Please believe me let the magic reach me and I will unfold
I'll step aboard with you onday
And see my dust just melt away
And then I'll step inside your magic shadow
dreamers...
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhh
magic shadows
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhhh
Have you seen, have you seen
Have you seen, have you seen
Have you seen, have you seen
Have you seen, have you seen magic shadows
Have you seen, have you seen magic shadows
Have you seen, have you seen magic shadows
Have you seen, have you seen magic shadows...
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhhh
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhhh
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhhh
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhhh
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhhh
oooohoooooohooooooohhhhhhhh...
Lyrics submitted by oofus
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