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.
There was a love affair in this building
The kind of love affair
Which every respectable building must keep as a legend
Slowly festering through an innocent "by the way"
Or "have you heard"
He was perfect except for the fact that he was an engineer
And mothers prefer doctors and lawyers
Do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do
Do-do-do-do, dum-dum-dum-dum
Yet despite this imperfection
He was clean-looking and respectable-looking
And you'll never find a mother
Who doesn't appreciate a natural man
So he grew healthy aloe vera plants by the window
Healthy teeth in his mouth
Healthy hair on his head, oh
He grew healthy wavy brown hair on his head
The kind, the kind that babies always go for
With sticky little fingers
Do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do
Do-do-do-do, dum-dum-dum-dum
Ah-dum, ah-dum-da-da
The kind of love affair
Which every respectable building must keep as a legend
Slowly festering through an innocent "by the way"
Or "have you heard"
He was perfect except for the fact that he was an engineer
And mothers prefer doctors and lawyers
Do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do
Do-do-do-do, dum-dum-dum-dum
Yet despite this imperfection
He was clean-looking and respectable-looking
And you'll never find a mother
Who doesn't appreciate a natural man
So he grew healthy aloe vera plants by the window
Healthy teeth in his mouth
Healthy hair on his head, oh
He grew healthy wavy brown hair on his head
The kind, the kind that babies always go for
With sticky little fingers
Do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do
Do-do-do-do, dum-dum-dum-dum
Ah-dum, ah-dum-da-da
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mmmm. Regina Spektor is so friggin amazing. I wish all her albums were released and ready for me to buy. She has such witty lyrics and great music.