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.
Belladonna's on the high street
Her breasts upon the offbeat
And the stalls are just the side shows
Victoriana's old clothes
And yes, her jeans are tight now
She gotta travel light now
She got to turn up all her roots now
She got to turn up for the boots now
She thinks she's tough
She ain't no English rose
Ah, but the blind singer
He's seen enough and he knows
Yes, and he do a song about a long-gone Irish girl
Ah, but I got one for you, Portobello Belle
She sees a man upon his back there
Escaping from a sack there
And Belladonna lingers
Her gloves they got no fingers
Yeah, the blind man sing in Irish
He get his money in a tin dish
Just a corner serenader
Upon a time he could have made her, made her
She thinks she's tough
She ain't no English rose
Ah, but the blind singer
He's seen enough and he knows
Yes, and he do a song about a long-gone Irish girl
Ah, but I got one for you, Portobello Belle
Yes, and the barrow boys are hawking
And the parakeet is squawking
Upon a truck there is a rhino
She get the crying of a wino
And then she hear the reggae rumble
Belladonna's in the jungle
But she is no garden flower
There is no distress in the tower
Belladonna walks
Belladonna taking a stroll
She don't care about your window box
Or your button hole
Yes, and she sing a song about a long-gone Irish girl
Ah, but I got one for you, Portobello Belle
Her breasts upon the offbeat
And the stalls are just the side shows
Victoriana's old clothes
And yes, her jeans are tight now
She gotta travel light now
She got to turn up all her roots now
She got to turn up for the boots now
She thinks she's tough
She ain't no English rose
Ah, but the blind singer
He's seen enough and he knows
Yes, and he do a song about a long-gone Irish girl
Ah, but I got one for you, Portobello Belle
She sees a man upon his back there
Escaping from a sack there
And Belladonna lingers
Her gloves they got no fingers
Yeah, the blind man sing in Irish
He get his money in a tin dish
Just a corner serenader
Upon a time he could have made her, made her
She thinks she's tough
She ain't no English rose
Ah, but the blind singer
He's seen enough and he knows
Yes, and he do a song about a long-gone Irish girl
Ah, but I got one for you, Portobello Belle
Yes, and the barrow boys are hawking
And the parakeet is squawking
Upon a truck there is a rhino
She get the crying of a wino
And then she hear the reggae rumble
Belladonna's in the jungle
But she is no garden flower
There is no distress in the tower
Belladonna walks
Belladonna taking a stroll
She don't care about your window box
Or your button hole
Yes, and she sing a song about a long-gone Irish girl
Ah, but I got one for you, Portobello Belle
Lyrics submitted by Dasch, edited by doccolinni
Portobello Belle Lyrics as written by Mark Knopfler
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mark Knopfler wrote this song at Portobello Road London, in a pub called The Duke of Wellington, in the 60's -70's a pub called Finch. (179 Portobello Road)
He was there often as a guest and wrote it for a pretty young lady who was the sister of the manager.
The pub was often visited by the Dubliners, Donovan and Jimi Hendrix celebrated his last night there.
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