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 spend the days with my vanity
I'm lost in heaven and I'm lost to earth
Didn't give you minutes not even moments
All my life in a tower of foil
Shaded feelings, don't believe you
When you were there before my eyes
No one planned it took it for granted
I count the hours since you slipped away
I count the hours that I lie awake
I count the minutes and the seconds too
All I stole and I took from you
But Bonny don't live at home, Bonny don't live at home
Words don't hold you, broken soldiers
I count the hours since you slipped away
I count the hours that I lie awake
I count the minutes and the seconds too
All I stole and I took from you
But Bonny don't live at home, Bonny don't live at home
Words don't hold you, broken soldiers
All my silence and my strained respect
Missed chances and the same regrets
Kiss the thief and you save the rest
All my insights from retrospect
But Bonny's not coming home, Bonny don't live at home
Save your speeches, flowers are for funerals
I'm lost in heaven and I'm lost to earth
Didn't give you minutes not even moments
All my life in a tower of foil
Shaded feelings, don't believe you
When you were there before my eyes
No one planned it took it for granted
I count the hours since you slipped away
I count the hours that I lie awake
I count the minutes and the seconds too
All I stole and I took from you
But Bonny don't live at home, Bonny don't live at home
Words don't hold you, broken soldiers
I count the hours since you slipped away
I count the hours that I lie awake
I count the minutes and the seconds too
All I stole and I took from you
But Bonny don't live at home, Bonny don't live at home
Words don't hold you, broken soldiers
All my silence and my strained respect
Missed chances and the same regrets
Kiss the thief and you save the rest
All my insights from retrospect
But Bonny's not coming home, Bonny don't live at home
Save your speeches, flowers are for funerals
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Paddy's vocals on this are stunning,full of guilt and hurt.But the song is more sophisticated than a simple lost love song of 'baby come back, I screwed up' There is so much delibarate ambiguity in the lyrics. Bonny could be a noun or a verb in the context of the song.
@nusounds not sure that 'Bonny' can be a verb.