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.
Skinny was born in a bathtub
And he grew so incredibly thin
Even the end of an eye dropper
Sucked him in
Skinny never knew any questions
Skinny never looked at lights
Skinny sold something
Every single night
Skinny sold a soldier toy to me
Skinny sold a wife
Skinny sold a suction cup
And a knife
Skinny found a hello dolly
Record in the hall
He sold it to a truck driver
In the fall
(Hello Dolly)
Here I come, Constantinople
Here I come, Constantinople
I am coming, Constantinople
Here I come
Here I come, Constantinople
Here I come, Constantinople
I am coming, Constantinople
Here I come
All the leaves are off of the oak and
All the sheep have followed the spoken
Word I'm coming, Constantinople
Here I come
As I stand out in the open
All my friends are with you I hope and
Pray I'm coming, constantinople
Here I come
Here I come, Constantinople
Here I come, Constantinople
I am coming Constantinople
Here I come
Here I come, Constantinople
Here I come, Constantinople
I am coming Constantinople
Here I come
Well, here I come, Constantinople
I'm coming, Constantinople
I'm coming with my head held high
Here I come, Constantinople
I'm coming
I can't wait to see you
I'm coming with my head held high
I'm not coming on my knees
I'm coming, Constantinople
Here I come, Constantinople
Here I come, Constantinople
I am coming Constantinople
Here I come
And he grew so incredibly thin
Even the end of an eye dropper
Sucked him in
Skinny never knew any questions
Skinny never looked at lights
Skinny sold something
Every single night
Skinny sold a soldier toy to me
Skinny sold a wife
Skinny sold a suction cup
And a knife
Skinny found a hello dolly
Record in the hall
He sold it to a truck driver
In the fall
(Hello Dolly)
Here I come, Constantinople
Here I come, Constantinople
I am coming, Constantinople
Here I come
Here I come, Constantinople
Here I come, Constantinople
I am coming, Constantinople
Here I come
All the leaves are off of the oak and
All the sheep have followed the spoken
Word I'm coming, Constantinople
Here I come
As I stand out in the open
All my friends are with you I hope and
Pray I'm coming, constantinople
Here I come
Here I come, Constantinople
Here I come, Constantinople
I am coming Constantinople
Here I come
Here I come, Constantinople
Here I come, Constantinople
I am coming Constantinople
Here I come
Well, here I come, Constantinople
I'm coming, Constantinople
I'm coming with my head held high
Here I come, Constantinople
I'm coming
I can't wait to see you
I'm coming with my head held high
I'm not coming on my knees
I'm coming, Constantinople
Here I come, Constantinople
Here I come, Constantinople
I am coming Constantinople
Here I come
Lyrics submitted by PersonMan92
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I like the meaning about meth but speed is a more accurate drug for being made in a bathtub. To me the whole part of a "suction cup and a knife" sticks out to me. This imagery suggest abortion instruments to me. Also the idea that "he grew so incredibly thin" and that skinny never knew anything and that he "never looked at lights". A fetus never has the ability to see in the womb also would never know of anything of the world. I honestly see this being about someone who survived an abortion as a fetus and stuggled to fulfill a meaningful life and commits abortions himself. I know it sounds weird but at the same time I think it has an outreaching concept about how humanity never learns from it's mistakes including what has been done to them. AS for the Constantinople part this is all about someone getting high and being addicted. He is looking forward to going to a place that doesn't exist at all at least anymore. it could be a song about delusion in life but some one who is broken by that delusion. He states "all the leaves are all off the oak" leaves are the life source of plants and with no leaves they have no means of living anymore. One could also look at it as possibly a suicidal idea. Either way it is about escaping from reality.
Fail! Nice try though..