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.
I don't want to hear a love song
I got on this airplane just to fly
And I know there's life below me
But all that it can show me
Is the prairie and the sky
And I don't want to hear a sad story
Full of heartbreak and desire
The last time I felt like this
I was in the wilderness and the canyon was on fire
And I stood on the mountain
In the night and I watched it burn
I watched it burn, I watched it burn
I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham
I would hold my life in his saving grace
I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham
If I thought I could see, I could see your face
Well you really got me this time
And the hardest part is knowing I'll survive
I have come to listen for the sound
Of the trucks as they move down
Out on ninety five
And pretend that it's the ocean
Coming down to wash me clean, to wash me clean
Baby do you know what I mean
I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham
I would hold my life in his saving grace
I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham
If I thought I could see, I could see your face
If I thought I could see, I could see your face
I got on this airplane just to fly
And I know there's life below me
But all that it can show me
Is the prairie and the sky
And I don't want to hear a sad story
Full of heartbreak and desire
The last time I felt like this
I was in the wilderness and the canyon was on fire
And I stood on the mountain
In the night and I watched it burn
I watched it burn, I watched it burn
I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham
I would hold my life in his saving grace
I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham
If I thought I could see, I could see your face
Well you really got me this time
And the hardest part is knowing I'll survive
I have come to listen for the sound
Of the trucks as they move down
Out on ninety five
And pretend that it's the ocean
Coming down to wash me clean, to wash me clean
Baby do you know what I mean
I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham
I would hold my life in his saving grace
I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham
If I thought I could see, I could see your face
If I thought I could see, I could see your face
Lyrics submitted by Bobo192, edited by csharpminor
Boulder To Birmingham Lyrics as written by Emmylou Harris Bill Danoff
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
You know, I listened to this song for 10 years before I learned who Gram Parsons was. I've since become very well acquainted with his music, life, and his legacy. So many things come back to Gram, don't they? That tragic, brilliant, charismatic dumbass. It makes sense, of course, that this song is about him.
But it works equally well as a regular, ordinary heartbreak song of one who loved too hard, or put too much of themselves into a relationship with the wrong person. The one you love doesn't have to die to feel this desolate (although it certainly helps). It reminds me also of the feelings I've had for a friend who committed suicide in a rather more direct and straightforward way than Gram did. A combination of love, tragic loneliness, and anger at the beloved.
Hauntingly, achingly beautiful. A classic.
I've loved this song since I heard it (in harmony) on the album by Starland Vocal Band, so about 40 years. Yesterday, I heard it on my car radio sung by Emmy Lou Harris, so I decided to look it up today. I had no idea she wrote it or why she did so. It's a beautiful, haunting song with terrific lyrics that speak of love lost. My only criticism (or maybe it's it's my interpretation) is that with the references to canyons and mountains, maybe you should capitalize Boulder?? Full disclosure: (My daughter lives in Colorado).
@linsam947 Yes, I've wondered why "boulder" is not capitalized. Carelessness? Ignorance? (I learned recently that some people think New Mexico is part of Mexico.)
This song is clearly about her losing Gram Parsons. Such a beautiful love song about loss I think the line "..and that hardest part is knowing I'll survive". I think we can all relate to this line when we've lost something so dear to us.
@Beco Indeed, a great line.
Total heartbreak - total loss.
This is E. Harris 1st composed song - tremendously sad (when u know topic) but wondrously cataclysmic desert imagery and singing - reflecting on Parsons' death in the desert and caught between trajic memories and need to move on - "And I know there's life below, But all that it can show me Is the prairie and the sky = emptiness. Phenomenal backing, both vocally and musically - a classic.
Great song, although the verses outshine the refrain. I love the last verse. I recently moved to an apartment near an interstate, and when I hear the trucks I try to imagine that it is "the ocean coming down to wash me clean".
US highway 95 passes through more desert than any other highway in the country. I think that's why she used that number. Or maybe because it rhymes with survive.
@unkfred I presumed she was talking about I-95 which passed through her hometown Baltimore.....<br />
@unkfred I like your first interpretation better. Besides, several interstates have a five in them.
My intro to this song was hearing Starland Vocal Band's version in 1980, from their 1976 debut album. This was definitely the best song on that album, even better than their big hit "Afternoon Delight". Bill Danoff wrote this song with Emmylou Harris. I didn't hear Emmylou Harris' version till 2016. There's a great YouTube video of her singing this song live on German television in 1977, simply incredible to watch and listen to.
Listen to the sound of the trucks... on 95 pretending it's the ocean ... to wash me clean.
This has always sounded like suicidal ideation to me. If I just lie down here, the trucks will wash away my pain.