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.
Oslo in the summertime; nobody can fall asleep, staring out the window from my bed.
At 4 A.M., the sun is up. Look, the sky is peppered with sea birds and with crows all cackling.
Up in treten Heimdalsgate, me and Nina making fun of footballers in Rudolf Nilsen Plass.
I practice my Norwegian on poor befuddled waitresses, who shake their heads completely at a loss.
Oslo in the summertime -- the streets are strangely quiet 'cause everyone's away on holiday.
Oslo in the summertime; Pakistani children play locked inside of the courtyard all day.
Pretty people everywhere, sun-lamp tans and flaxen hair -- just tell the American not to stare.
At 4 A.M., the sun is up. Look, the sky is peppered with sea birds and with crows all cackling.
Up in treten Heimdalsgate, me and Nina making fun of footballers in Rudolf Nilsen Plass.
I practice my Norwegian on poor befuddled waitresses, who shake their heads completely at a loss.
Oslo in the summertime -- the streets are strangely quiet 'cause everyone's away on holiday.
Oslo in the summertime; Pakistani children play locked inside of the courtyard all day.
Pretty people everywhere, sun-lamp tans and flaxen hair -- just tell the American not to stare.
Lyrics submitted by testemunha
Oslo in the Summertime Lyrics as written by Kevin Barnes
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The song has a really alienating feel to it imo. To me the narrator feels extremely uncomfortable in this unfamiliar and strange place. "the sun is up at 4am" "nobody can fall asleep" "just tell the american not to stare" "i practice my norwegian on poor befuddled waitresses who shake their head completely at a loss." The lyrics and sound of the song lead me to believe that the narrator really does not enjoy it. I was told that the reason for Barnes' depression during the recording of Hissing Fauna in Norway was at least partly due to culture shock, and that's what this song sounds like to me. I dunno, I was just lying down listening to the Sunlandic Twins by myself in that lethargic and tired mood where I was bored but at the same time didn't feel like doing anything, and the song seemed to match my mood perfectly. When I hear the line "staring out the window from my bed" I think of that.