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.
We speak in the store
I'm a sensitive bore
You seem markedly more
And I'm oozing surprise
But it's late in the day
And you're well on your way
What was golden went gray
And I'm suddenly shy
And the gatherin' floozies
Afford to be choosy
And all sneezing darkly
In the dimming divide
And I have read the right books
To interpret your looks
You were knocking me down
With the palm of your eye
This was unlike the story
It was written to be
I was riding its back
When it used to ride me
And we were galloping manic
To the mouth of the source
We were swallowing panic
In the face of its force
And I am blue
I am blue and unwell
Made me bolt like a horse
Now it's done
Watch it go
You've changed some
water runs from the snow
Am I so dear?
Do I run rare?
And you've changed some
Peach, plum, pear...
Peach, plum...
I'm a sensitive bore
You seem markedly more
And I'm oozing surprise
But it's late in the day
And you're well on your way
What was golden went gray
And I'm suddenly shy
And the gatherin' floozies
Afford to be choosy
And all sneezing darkly
In the dimming divide
And I have read the right books
To interpret your looks
You were knocking me down
With the palm of your eye
This was unlike the story
It was written to be
I was riding its back
When it used to ride me
And we were galloping manic
To the mouth of the source
We were swallowing panic
In the face of its force
And I am blue
I am blue and unwell
Made me bolt like a horse
Now it's done
Watch it go
You've changed some
water runs from the snow
Am I so dear?
Do I run rare?
And you've changed some
Peach, plum, pear...
Peach, plum...
Lyrics submitted by Mopnugget
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On "The Milk-Eyed Mender" I definitely hear "made me bold like a horse" as it says in the liner notes (which makes more sense than "a whore" because of the "source/force" rhymes). But in the "Walnut Whales" version of the song I clearly hear "so bold like whores" (which is a bit of a slant rhyme on "source/force" but still works). My guess would be that she changed it (why is anyone's guess), and being as she is so concerned with sound, "horse" mixed with the residual "whores" and created an interesting ambiguity. In a sense, it doesn't matter what the word is, because it's more about sound than meaning anyways, I believe (in this instance).
@couriernew interesting take, as in my mind the ending T sounds is so much more pronounced in the Walnut Whales version. I used to think the line was simultaneously "bolt like a horse" and "bold like a whore" but I'm starting to think the latter was never intended by miss newsom.