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.
It's my father's voice trailing off
Sailors sailing off in the morning
For the air-conditioned rooms
At the top of the stairs
His jaw's been broken
His bandage is wrapped too tight
His fangs have been pulled
And I really wanna see you tonight
There's bourbon on the breath
Of the singer you love so much
He takes all his words from the books
That you don't read anyway
His jaw's been broken
His bandage is wrapped too tight
His fangs have been pulled
And I really wanna see you tonight
Someone ties a bow
In my backyard to show me love
My voice is climbing walls
Smoking and I wanted love
My jaw's been broken
My heart is wrapped in ice
My fangs have been pulled
And I really wanna see you tonight
And it makes no difference to me
How they cried all over overseas
When it's hot in the poor places tonight
I'm not going outside
They cried all over overseas
It makes no difference to me
When it's hot in the poor places tonight
I'm not going outside
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
It's hot in the poor places tonight
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
I'm not going outside
(Yankee, Foxtrot)
I'm not going outside
(Yankee, Foxtrot)
I'm not going outside
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel)
Sailors sailing off in the morning
For the air-conditioned rooms
At the top of the stairs
His jaw's been broken
His bandage is wrapped too tight
His fangs have been pulled
And I really wanna see you tonight
There's bourbon on the breath
Of the singer you love so much
He takes all his words from the books
That you don't read anyway
His jaw's been broken
His bandage is wrapped too tight
His fangs have been pulled
And I really wanna see you tonight
Someone ties a bow
In my backyard to show me love
My voice is climbing walls
Smoking and I wanted love
My jaw's been broken
My heart is wrapped in ice
My fangs have been pulled
And I really wanna see you tonight
And it makes no difference to me
How they cried all over overseas
When it's hot in the poor places tonight
I'm not going outside
They cried all over overseas
It makes no difference to me
When it's hot in the poor places tonight
I'm not going outside
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
It's hot in the poor places tonight
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
I'm not going outside
(Yankee, Foxtrot)
I'm not going outside
(Yankee, Foxtrot)
I'm not going outside
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot)
(Yankee, Hotel)
Lyrics submitted by Yoshiidino, edited by cordoba
Poor Places Lyrics as written by Jay Bennett Jeff Tweedy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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Great version of a great song,
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Poor Places is a strange song. Basically, on the demos for YHF, the song had twice as many lyrics. Somewhere between the demo and the actual CD, Wilco decided to cut out the end of every line. The complete lyrics tell much more, I'll write some one.
It's my father's voice trailing off sailors sailing off in the morning to fight the war, For the air conditioned room at the top of the stairs, at the head of the table... there's a face on every smile and it makes no difference to me, how they cried all over overseas, cause its hot in the poor places tonight I'm not going goin outside.
There's bourbon on the breath of the singer you love so much, he doesn't care If he takes all his words from the books that you don't read anyway
It makes more sense this way, but is missing the absolute glory of this song--the slow buildup and climax, the degrade into noises and fuzz.
The original version is also very piano-driven and upbeat. I'm glad they changed it.