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.
Was only seventeen
I fell in love with a gypsy queen
She told me "hold on"
Her father was the leading man
Said "you're not welcome on our land"
And then as a foe, he told me to go
He took me to a little shack
And put a whip across my back
Then told her "leave me"
I was out for quite a time
Came back with her on my mind
Sweet little girl
She means all the world
Ah
Oh, I want my gypsy queen
Will she still be torn between
Her father and lover
One day I will go to him
Strong enough to fight and win
The kind of a man
That he'll understand
Ah
Ah
Ah
I fell in love with a gypsy queen
She told me "hold on"
Her father was the leading man
Said "you're not welcome on our land"
And then as a foe, he told me to go
He took me to a little shack
And put a whip across my back
Then told her "leave me"
I was out for quite a time
Came back with her on my mind
Sweet little girl
She means all the world
Ah
Oh, I want my gypsy queen
Will she still be torn between
Her father and lover
One day I will go to him
Strong enough to fight and win
The kind of a man
That he'll understand
Ah
Ah
Ah
Lyrics submitted by MistaTwista
Gypsy Lyrics as written by Michael Box David Byron
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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To this day I still remember seeing Uriah Heep's first album in the window of my local record shop when it first came out. Over the years that followed there was a handful of albums that I bought purely because of the cover but 'Very eavy, Very umble' was the first. I became a fan just on the strength of the opening track, Gipsy. Salisbury came next and I still adore every moment of the title track. And Lady in Black remains one of Ken Hensley's finest compositions.
I saw Heep live six times in their first few years. In the summer of 1973 I turned 20 years of age and saw them for the last time at the week long London Music Festival at the Alexandra Palace when they headlined the final night. The Heavy Metal Kids opened the show and I remember their singer, Gary Holton introducing one of their numbers thus; "This next song is for all those people who don't like us, It's called We Won't Talk To You" - which still ranks as one of the best song announcements I've ever heard! The Alex Harvey Band were next. It's the only time I ever saw them but I remember Alex getting a bit annoyed at the (unfair) heckling from people who were only there to see Uriah Heep and I think they cut their set short because of the heckling. And then Heep were there, probably one of the biggest gigs they'd done in Europe up till that time. Though I can't remember much about it, I know it was a great show with David Byron resplendent in a matching shiny short jacket and loon pants - can't remember the colour!
I kind of lost track of the band around the mid 70's. I was into so many bands and artists by then I simply couldn't afford to follow everyone so some had to give way and Heep was one of them. I was very saddened upon reading of David Byron's passing. Though he's no longer with the band, Ken Hensley, as well as being a fine musician, is, I think, one of the great and most underrated songwriters of all time, in any genre.
In recent years I've wished I'd kept up with Heep but their still going strong due entirely to Mick Box, bless him. So despite damaged hearing, caused almost entirely by loud music, I may still one day get to see the Heep live!
Love and best wishes to all.