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.
They went down to the river
On a warm summer night
The air was thick with the
Smell of temptation
When he said "Why don't we lay in the water
Let the water run over me"
And she grinned and she said
And she said
Now she said
"Now that's a good idea"
She said, she said
"Now that's a good idea"
She said, she said
"Now that's a good idea"
She said, she said
"Now that's a good idea"
She said, he said
He held her head high in his hands
He held her down deep in the stream
He saw the bubbles and matted hair
Mixed in with seaweed
He started to scream
Was it something I said
Was it something I said
And she said and she said
And she said, she said
"Now that's a good idea" she said, she said
"To be alone with you" she said, she said
"I've been waiting for years
And I'd rather be dead"
"That's a good idea" he said, he said
He held her down in the river
He held her down in the water
Another river of mud
Wash away those tears
He said and he said
"Now that's a good idea"
He said, "Now that's a good idea"
He said, "Now that's a good idea"
He said, "Now that's a good idea"
I saw them from the ocean
She didn't seem to mind
Didn't fight at all
She didn't fight it at all
Some things are best left alone
Sometimes I'm best left alone
And sometimes I see you in the water
At night, at night, at night
"That's a good idea" she said, she said
"Want to feel you in the water
With your hands on my head"
Push her down into the water
She said she said
"Now that's a good idea" she said, she said
"Now that's a good idea, that's a good idea"
She said, she said
Now she said, now she said
"That's a good idea, that's a good idea
That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"I want to feel you in the water
With your hands on my head"
Push her down into the water
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She, said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
On a warm summer night
The air was thick with the
Smell of temptation
When he said "Why don't we lay in the water
Let the water run over me"
And she grinned and she said
And she said
Now she said
"Now that's a good idea"
She said, she said
"Now that's a good idea"
She said, she said
"Now that's a good idea"
She said, she said
"Now that's a good idea"
She said, he said
He held her head high in his hands
He held her down deep in the stream
He saw the bubbles and matted hair
Mixed in with seaweed
He started to scream
Was it something I said
Was it something I said
And she said and she said
And she said, she said
"Now that's a good idea" she said, she said
"To be alone with you" she said, she said
"I've been waiting for years
And I'd rather be dead"
"That's a good idea" he said, he said
He held her down in the river
He held her down in the water
Another river of mud
Wash away those tears
He said and he said
"Now that's a good idea"
He said, "Now that's a good idea"
He said, "Now that's a good idea"
He said, "Now that's a good idea"
I saw them from the ocean
She didn't seem to mind
Didn't fight at all
She didn't fight it at all
Some things are best left alone
Sometimes I'm best left alone
And sometimes I see you in the water
At night, at night, at night
"That's a good idea" she said, she said
"Want to feel you in the water
With your hands on my head"
Push her down into the water
She said she said
"Now that's a good idea" she said, she said
"Now that's a good idea, that's a good idea"
She said, she said
Now she said, now she said
"That's a good idea, that's a good idea
That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"I want to feel you in the water
With your hands on my head"
Push her down into the water
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She, said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
She said, she said
"That's a good idea"
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
This is something of a acknowledgement of an homage to an homage both of and from the pixies...... Confused yet?
Bob mould is arguably the most influential alternative artist of all time his work is stamped all over REM, Meat puppets, Weezer Sonic Youth Dinosaur Jr and the bands they inspired such as Nirvana Live and so on and among his biggest fans were the pixies who took a lot of the musical styling of Husker DU and bob moulds work to make their own sound.
The pixies are AWESOME and their unhinged upbeat songs about murder sex and quirkiness are incredibly influential too.
So Bob mould wrote a song that's basically a pixies song. its his way of acknowledging his influence on them and their using of what he did in husker Du but also paying tribute to one of the great bands of all time.
So if you are going to do a pixies style song you play like the pixies hence the "fun upbeat song about killing somebody possibly while on an trip" lyrics driving melodic bass and bizzare guitar half chords.