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.
Your coat and hat are gone
I really can't look at your little empty shelf
A ragged teddy bear
It feels like we never had a chance
Don't look me in the eye
We lay in each other's arms
But the room is just an empty space
I guess we lived it out
Something in the air
We smile too fast
Then can't think of a thing to say
Lived with the best times
Left with the worst
I've danced with you too long
Nothing left to save
Let's take what we can
I know you'll hold your head up high
We've raged for the last time
A place of no return
And there's something in the air
Something in my eye
I've danced with you too long
Yeah
Something in the air
Something in my eye
Abracadoo, I lose you
We can't avoid the clash, the big mistake
Now we're going to pay and pay
The sentence of our lives
Can't believe I'm asking you to go
We used what we could
To get the things we want
But we lost each other on the way
I guess you know I never wanted anyone more than you
Lived all our best times
Left with the worst
I've danced with you too long
Say what you will
There's something in the air
Raged for the last time
But I know you'll hold your head up high
There's nothing we have to say
There's nothing in our eyes
But there's something in the air
Something in my eye
I danced with you too long
There's something I have to say
There's something in the air
Something in my eye
I've danced with you too long
Danced with you too long (doo, doo)
Danced with you too long
And there's something in the air
Something in the air (doo doo, doo doo, doo doo, doo doo)
I really can't look at your little empty shelf
A ragged teddy bear
It feels like we never had a chance
Don't look me in the eye
We lay in each other's arms
But the room is just an empty space
I guess we lived it out
Something in the air
We smile too fast
Then can't think of a thing to say
Lived with the best times
Left with the worst
I've danced with you too long
Nothing left to save
Let's take what we can
I know you'll hold your head up high
We've raged for the last time
A place of no return
And there's something in the air
Something in my eye
I've danced with you too long
Yeah
Something in the air
Something in my eye
Abracadoo, I lose you
We can't avoid the clash, the big mistake
Now we're going to pay and pay
The sentence of our lives
Can't believe I'm asking you to go
We used what we could
To get the things we want
But we lost each other on the way
I guess you know I never wanted anyone more than you
Lived all our best times
Left with the worst
I've danced with you too long
Say what you will
There's something in the air
Raged for the last time
But I know you'll hold your head up high
There's nothing we have to say
There's nothing in our eyes
But there's something in the air
Something in my eye
I danced with you too long
There's something I have to say
There's something in the air
Something in my eye
I've danced with you too long
Danced with you too long (doo, doo)
Danced with you too long
And there's something in the air
Something in the air (doo doo, doo doo, doo doo, doo doo)
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For no particular reason, I always assumed that this song was about a divorce going bad. Amazing song, though. I love how his voice breaks at the end of the verses. Strange, because this one has been used in at least two films, "American Psycho" and "Memento" which is where I heard it first.
@Bonehead XL Yep, it is about that in my opinion too. Funny I bought this cd one week before getting divorced haha. And agree, the song, hell!! Is amazing, still hearing it increases my heartbeat. Bowie is by far my favourite songwriter ever.