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.
From my boat I can see your house
And when the lights are off
I can watch you move
Hear the wind whispering your name
Twice the encouragement
Of the real you
Callie if you really want me to
I can always get you down
If you get the money for me
Callie in the summer rain
You will be kept dry you see
If you got the money for me
Making amends for distant wrong
Sincere
You can run away
Leave your books behind you
But you should look back twise
Just to be on the save side
From my boat I can see your house
But now the lights are off
And there is no one home
You are just like an avalanche
Cold as I might have guessed
But at least I'm covered up for now
In a big, big way
I am really small
I get off my feet
But I'm still distant
Don't you just love goodbyes?
Callie let us get it over with
I can always get you down
If you got the money for me
Callie in the summer rain
You will be kept dry you see
If you got the money for me
Most of our lives we try so hard
To find the time
I won't care for you
Like I'm really supposed to
There are things I'll do
That could really hurt you
Don't you just love goodbyes?
156
And when the lights are off
I can watch you move
Hear the wind whispering your name
Twice the encouragement
Of the real you
Callie if you really want me to
I can always get you down
If you get the money for me
Callie in the summer rain
You will be kept dry you see
If you got the money for me
Making amends for distant wrong
Sincere
You can run away
Leave your books behind you
But you should look back twise
Just to be on the save side
From my boat I can see your house
But now the lights are off
And there is no one home
You are just like an avalanche
Cold as I might have guessed
But at least I'm covered up for now
In a big, big way
I am really small
I get off my feet
But I'm still distant
Don't you just love goodbyes?
Callie let us get it over with
I can always get you down
If you got the money for me
Callie in the summer rain
You will be kept dry you see
If you got the money for me
Most of our lives we try so hard
To find the time
I won't care for you
Like I'm really supposed to
There are things I'll do
That could really hurt you
Don't you just love goodbyes?
156
Lyrics submitted by Belle-and-Eric-Hajdu
156 Lyrics as written by Johan Haslund Wohlert Bo Rune Madsen
Lyrics © FINTAGE PUB & COLLECTION B.V.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I feel like this song is about drugs. You all have these beautiful, elaborate explanations, and I'm like: drugs! when I hear it.
it's the money thing. "I can always get you down if you got the money for me." for that it just screams drug dealer everytime i hear it.
I think Callie is a really well behaved girl, excellent at school and all, with whom the narrator, a drug-dealer, falls in love...she does drugs in the beginning of the relationship (leave your books behind you, you should look back twice--> about how she leaves her world she used to live in, and look back as in she knows better than to do drugs) but slowly fades away from it and he doesn't understand this, why she's saying goodbye.
"in a big big way I am really small" -- > his falsehood, how bad of a person he is the way he relies on drugs, but he's a small person with a lot of problems.
I also don't agree that the boat is literally a boat and there her house is literally a house. I think he's the dealer = the boat, and she's a house = a body, a being, safe haven perhaps.
when her lights are on / off, she's sober / high
as for 156 I am absolutely lost =(
boats carry goods btw...i didn't explain that.<br /> <br /> i really would like the band's original explanation =/