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.
Well he lit you up
Like amber waves in his movie show
He fixed you up real good
Till I don't know you anymore
From ballet class to a lap dance
Straight to video
And the pool side news
Was that he would be
Launching you
[Chorus:]
Into every young man's
Bedroom - you gave it up
On Dvd and magazine
You gave it up
A private right of passage
You gave it up
To every boy's sweet dream
With their paper cuts
You said "he's got a
Healing machine
It glows in the dark
Glows in the dark:
You say "there's not a lot
Of me
Left anymore
Just leave it alone.
But if you're buy, and you have
The time, tell the Northern
Lights to keep shining - Lately it seems like they're drowning"
He cold light you up
And summon every swan
Or the Lakesie
Off to Cabo San Lucas
For some optical stimulus
Then you started to guess
There was someone else
Though his flint glass
Seeing all of you
Immersed in his sepia
[Chorus]
So I went by
Cause I had the time,
And told the Northern Lights
To keep shining
They told me to tell you
They're waving
Like amber waves in his movie show
He fixed you up real good
Till I don't know you anymore
From ballet class to a lap dance
Straight to video
And the pool side news
Was that he would be
Launching you
[Chorus:]
Into every young man's
Bedroom - you gave it up
On Dvd and magazine
You gave it up
A private right of passage
You gave it up
To every boy's sweet dream
With their paper cuts
You said "he's got a
Healing machine
It glows in the dark
Glows in the dark:
You say "there's not a lot
Of me
Left anymore
Just leave it alone.
But if you're buy, and you have
The time, tell the Northern
Lights to keep shining - Lately it seems like they're drowning"
He cold light you up
And summon every swan
Or the Lakesie
Off to Cabo San Lucas
For some optical stimulus
Then you started to guess
There was someone else
Though his flint glass
Seeing all of you
Immersed in his sepia
[Chorus]
So I went by
Cause I had the time,
And told the Northern Lights
To keep shining
They told me to tell you
They're waving
Lyrics submitted by Concertina, edited by janeaparis1
Amber Waves Lyrics as written by Tori Ellen Amos
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"to every boy's sweet dream with their paper cuts"
I think the paper cuts part refers to the paper cuts boys would get by turning the cover of the magazine as they masturbate. It's such a sad song, how this woman gives up her body to be used by horny teen boys for sexual release, nothing more, nothing deeper than that.