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 a trick of my mind
Two faces bathing in the screen light
She's so soft and warm in my arms
I tune it into the scene
My hands are resting on her shoulders
When we're dancing away for a while
Oh, we're moving, we're falling
We step into the fire
By the hour of the wolf in a midnight dream
There's no reason to hurry
Just start the brand-new story
Set it alight, we're head over heels in love
Head over heels
The ringing of your laughter
It sounds like a melody
To once-forbidden places
We'll go for a while
The ringing of your laughter
It sounds like a melody
To once-forbidden places
We'll go for a while
It's the definite show
Our shadows resting in the moonlight
It's so clear and bright in your eyes
It's the touch of your sighs
My lips are resting on your shoulder
When we're moving so soft and slow
We need the ecstasy, the jealousy
The comedy of love
Like the Cary Grants and Kellys once before
Give me more tragedy, more harmony
And fantasy, my dear
And set it alight, just starting that satellite
Set it alight
The ringing of your laughter
It sounds like a melody
To once-forbidden places
We'll go for a while
The ringing of your laughter
It sounds like a melody
To once-forbidden places
We'll go for a while
Two faces bathing in the screen light
She's so soft and warm in my arms
I tune it into the scene
My hands are resting on her shoulders
When we're dancing away for a while
Oh, we're moving, we're falling
We step into the fire
By the hour of the wolf in a midnight dream
There's no reason to hurry
Just start the brand-new story
Set it alight, we're head over heels in love
Head over heels
The ringing of your laughter
It sounds like a melody
To once-forbidden places
We'll go for a while
The ringing of your laughter
It sounds like a melody
To once-forbidden places
We'll go for a while
It's the definite show
Our shadows resting in the moonlight
It's so clear and bright in your eyes
It's the touch of your sighs
My lips are resting on your shoulder
When we're moving so soft and slow
We need the ecstasy, the jealousy
The comedy of love
Like the Cary Grants and Kellys once before
Give me more tragedy, more harmony
And fantasy, my dear
And set it alight, just starting that satellite
Set it alight
The ringing of your laughter
It sounds like a melody
To once-forbidden places
We'll go for a while
The ringing of your laughter
It sounds like a melody
To once-forbidden places
We'll go for a while
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I love the rhythm of this song!!!
"phantasy, my love" Is actually "Fantasy, my dear"
@gabedachink Obviously "fantasy" is the proper spelling, but whenever I've seen these lyrics written out, it has always been "phantasy" - I think it might have been spelled that way in the liner notes for the album.
I think it's about when love is so good that it almost feels like magic. I think it’s that he is trying to describe. The melody is really cool, and the voice. I always get a picture of a couple hugging each other and dancing in purple moonlight, In love.
Any one has a coment on the line "by the hour of the wolf in a midnight dream"? THe only reference i find is to a 1960's very messed up Horror film called hour of the wolf (that would explaint he bird man and lady in the hat in the video, both demons in the movie, if what i read is right?) But the song is to sweet to refer to anythisg so dark as that? or is it? "Faces behind the screen light?" is that a movie reference?
A bit late to reply perhaps, but the hour of the wolf is not necessarily a film reference. It's an expression that refers to the time each night just before dawn, usually between 3 and 5. Thusly, the sentence becomes two time different references, a play with words. A bit more lighthearted than Bergmans film.
It's a metaphor for movies. "...Two faces bathed in screenlight" "...I tune it into the scene..." "...just start that brand new story..." "Set it alight"