Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
Wendy gets high for the 2nd show
I watch her dance and I watch her flow for a dollar
She dreams of Vegas and the desert strips
Where she can dance and she can make a lot of money
She left her home in a pick-up truck
Left her husband when he beat her up
And now she works all night
But the Kansas wind won't freeze her heart
No, the rain just rolls right off her back
She's gonna be alright
Just tell me 'bout the boulevards
Tell me 'bout your life in art
Yeah, tell me 'bout the boulevards
Because Europe always seemed so far
You look so young and you talk so old
Listen up, babe, I just might take you home if you're lucky
You read some books and they broke your heart
But you don't know one thing about life
You're just a pretty boy
And these bums on the corner will take your time
Sell you their stories for a nickel and a dime
You could learn something
And she stares so hard at those neon lights
I swear to god she's gonna bust them up
She's gonna bust them up
Just tell me 'bout the boulevards
Tell me 'bout your life in art
Yeah, tell me 'bout the boulevards
Because Europe always seemed so far
She laughs as she lights a cigarette
Throws her arms around my neck
She says "I'll kill you"
"I'll kill you just for trying"
"'Cause you don't even have the money"
"You don't have the money"
"Just buy me a drink and we'll call it quits"
"Tell me all about your pretty boy face"
I watch her dance and I watch her flow for a dollar
She dreams of Vegas and the desert strips
Where she can dance and she can make a lot of money
She left her home in a pick-up truck
Left her husband when he beat her up
And now she works all night
But the Kansas wind won't freeze her heart
No, the rain just rolls right off her back
She's gonna be alright
Just tell me 'bout the boulevards
Tell me 'bout your life in art
Yeah, tell me 'bout the boulevards
Because Europe always seemed so far
You look so young and you talk so old
Listen up, babe, I just might take you home if you're lucky
You read some books and they broke your heart
But you don't know one thing about life
You're just a pretty boy
And these bums on the corner will take your time
Sell you their stories for a nickel and a dime
You could learn something
And she stares so hard at those neon lights
I swear to god she's gonna bust them up
She's gonna bust them up
Just tell me 'bout the boulevards
Tell me 'bout your life in art
Yeah, tell me 'bout the boulevards
Because Europe always seemed so far
She laughs as she lights a cigarette
Throws her arms around my neck
She says "I'll kill you"
"I'll kill you just for trying"
"'Cause you don't even have the money"
"You don't have the money"
"Just buy me a drink and we'll call it quits"
"Tell me all about your pretty boy face"
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He reuses the verse melody from the previous album's "Dirty Little Religion", the topics of the verses are all over the place, and he packs too many words into one line (goes to show...) and too few in another (it's pretty hard to find), and rhymes "Henley Regatta" with "Persona non grata", but gets away with it all as only he could.
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Insane Ian
Insane Ian
The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
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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.
I love the bohemian feeling to this song. It doesn't seem to me that it has this deep message to it, sounds more like a reflexion of personal experiences and real life drama. I love it, anyway.