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.
Well it's a close one, a real close one
And no-one gets hurt, but she's got twice the fun
But now they kiss in the rain
And did someone call out someone's name
From a white cadillac on a wide wind
To her white dress across the great divide
Into the warm moonlight
And she's been reading Bukowski for days
And she leans over, spits her name in my face
And says "Well now you know how it feels"
Well now you know how it feels
[Chorus]
And I was looking for you
Looking for you
Looking for you in the city last night
The boys in the band steal a kiss in the mystery of the night
11:59 to zero, live a blonde hair in jeans, holds her tight
Turns on the heat and starts to fight and sayin' "that's my man"
Well the myth of love must have been there
The spirit of possession was there
And the boys over at the bar
Yeah they're mixing up their medicine
The girls were on their mobile trying to get reception
Johnny's shadow's getting long but he keeps on singing
His shadow getting long but he keeps on singing
[Chorus]
And people so strange
People so strange
People just keep talking in the city last night
Take off your shades and scroll down to number nine
You're living on the guest list, up against the big rack
Head back, hand highs, it's getting loud in here
Think you're going to have to shout
And she's tearing off her clothes
He's stirring all his drinks, oh yeah
Streets divide them
It's an empire of signs
Honey say she can read
And it looks like trouble
And it tastes like chocolate if you want it
It looks like trouble
And it tastes like chocolate if you want it
[Chorus]
And people so strange
People so strange
People just keep talking in the city last night
And I was looking for you
And I was looking for you
And I was looking for you in the city last night
And I was looking for you
Yeah I was looking for you
Yeah I was looking for you in the city last night
It's alright!
It's alright!
If you say my name
It's alright!
And no-one gets hurt, but she's got twice the fun
But now they kiss in the rain
And did someone call out someone's name
From a white cadillac on a wide wind
To her white dress across the great divide
Into the warm moonlight
And she's been reading Bukowski for days
And she leans over, spits her name in my face
And says "Well now you know how it feels"
Well now you know how it feels
[Chorus]
And I was looking for you
Looking for you
Looking for you in the city last night
The boys in the band steal a kiss in the mystery of the night
11:59 to zero, live a blonde hair in jeans, holds her tight
Turns on the heat and starts to fight and sayin' "that's my man"
Well the myth of love must have been there
The spirit of possession was there
And the boys over at the bar
Yeah they're mixing up their medicine
The girls were on their mobile trying to get reception
Johnny's shadow's getting long but he keeps on singing
His shadow getting long but he keeps on singing
[Chorus]
And people so strange
People so strange
People just keep talking in the city last night
Take off your shades and scroll down to number nine
You're living on the guest list, up against the big rack
Head back, hand highs, it's getting loud in here
Think you're going to have to shout
And she's tearing off her clothes
He's stirring all his drinks, oh yeah
Streets divide them
It's an empire of signs
Honey say she can read
And it looks like trouble
And it tastes like chocolate if you want it
It looks like trouble
And it tastes like chocolate if you want it
[Chorus]
And people so strange
People so strange
People just keep talking in the city last night
And I was looking for you
And I was looking for you
And I was looking for you in the city last night
And I was looking for you
Yeah I was looking for you
Yeah I was looking for you in the city last night
It's alright!
It's alright!
If you say my name
It's alright!
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Songs amazing.. it just builds and builds. The pounding beat literally connects with my legs. It'll make you fucking rock.
"The boys in the band steal a kiss in the mystery of the night"
That line's probably a Libertines reference.