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.
Little girl, where did you go?
Playing in the fields when the sun goes
Before the moon had changed at night
You had fallen out of sight
Little girl, why did you go away?
I was missing you, I knew when I strayed
Didn't mean to lie, didn't mean to cry
I just wanted to say goodbye
Little girl went to the city now
Got lost in this place up high
All the things you learned were almost real
But that denies our strength to heal
Little girl, why did you go away?
I was missing you, I knew when I strayed
Didn't mean to lie, didn't mean to cry
I just wanted to say goodbye
Walking down the street
Walking
My little girl...
Little girl gliding in the sky
came back down to say goodbye
I regret having scared you away
All my fault but nothing to say
Little girl, why did you go away?
I was missing you, I knew when I strayed
Didn't mean to lie, didn't mean to cry
I just wanted to say goodbye
Walking down the street
Walking
My little girl...
I had a girl
Little girl
She loved me more than I used to know
I loved that girl
I thought I would be with her forever
Playing in the fields when the sun goes
Before the moon had changed at night
You had fallen out of sight
Little girl, why did you go away?
I was missing you, I knew when I strayed
Didn't mean to lie, didn't mean to cry
I just wanted to say goodbye
Little girl went to the city now
Got lost in this place up high
All the things you learned were almost real
But that denies our strength to heal
Little girl, why did you go away?
I was missing you, I knew when I strayed
Didn't mean to lie, didn't mean to cry
I just wanted to say goodbye
Walking down the street
Walking
My little girl...
Little girl gliding in the sky
came back down to say goodbye
I regret having scared you away
All my fault but nothing to say
Little girl, why did you go away?
I was missing you, I knew when I strayed
Didn't mean to lie, didn't mean to cry
I just wanted to say goodbye
Walking down the street
Walking
My little girl...
I had a girl
Little girl
She loved me more than I used to know
I loved that girl
I thought I would be with her forever
Lyrics submitted by No_Snow
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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Silly children, this is not even an AIC song, listen to the voice for fucks sake. Obviously its not layne!