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’m trying
To do what’s best for me
Most nights sitting in a parked car
Reminiscing times
I got you we can go far
There’s something
About your ways that’s changed
Check back in a year you’ll see
You’ll take back what you said to me
Things change when you grow up in a small town
I used to give a fuck but I don’t really know now
Simple ways when i’d bike down the block
4 kids, cold days, just skipping some rocks
Most times it never feels the same
I can’t keep up while you’re playing these games
Change my ways, as i read this note
I can’t tell you this
But I love you she wrote
It’s time you take a step back
Realize that you would miss that
Stuck in jersey on the other side of the map
While you drink away your pain
Pretending that’ll fix that
Same school, same moves
Somethings gotta change soon
Been feeling so alone that nothing really gives a great mood
People tell you give it all that you got
Until you suffer some more, lie awake and rot
Long drives, faint days
I want to feel the rain
I want to know that someone out there’s gotta feel the same.
Stepping outside, first time today
Retrace my mind, clear my thoughts away
To do what’s best for me
Most nights sitting in a parked car
Reminiscing times
I got you we can go far
There’s something
About your ways that’s changed
Check back in a year you’ll see
You’ll take back what you said to me
Things change when you grow up in a small town
I used to give a fuck but I don’t really know now
Simple ways when i’d bike down the block
4 kids, cold days, just skipping some rocks
Most times it never feels the same
I can’t keep up while you’re playing these games
Change my ways, as i read this note
I can’t tell you this
But I love you she wrote
It’s time you take a step back
Realize that you would miss that
Stuck in jersey on the other side of the map
While you drink away your pain
Pretending that’ll fix that
Same school, same moves
Somethings gotta change soon
Been feeling so alone that nothing really gives a great mood
People tell you give it all that you got
Until you suffer some more, lie awake and rot
Long drives, faint days
I want to feel the rain
I want to know that someone out there’s gotta feel the same.
Stepping outside, first time today
Retrace my mind, clear my thoughts away
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Wow, fascinating question.
Fact is, I came here to gripe about the non-sequitur of the question, "How do I get you alone?" I, like most everybody, thought that's what it was, but after playing the lyrics in their entirety, I realized the situation didn't really raise that question.
"How do I get you alone," would fit if the singer wanted to get amorous with someone, but was repeatedly stopped by the presence of other people. There is no indication that that is the case; in fact, there is no mention of any other people.
She is alone in her room. She had planned to confess her love for him that night. She tried to call him, he didn't answer. To follow that with "How do I get you alone?" is like... WHAT? "How do I get to alone" makes all the sense, however.
Now, Quangelo, the point you raise suggests the possibility that Nancy and Ann don't know themselves. Maybe they even CHANGED it, as time passed. (They did not write this song.)
The first recorded version was for the TV series "Dreams". I just played it on youtube and I'm pretty clearly hearing "to."