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.
On the hill where Custer was
Making his last stand
With the Indians all around you
And his gun in his hand
Such a wind was blowing that day
Through the battleground
I could feel it in my hair
As I turned towards downtown
Weaving through the buildings
Cutting though the streets
Slicing through the culture
Piling on the weeks
Going home, I'm going home
Going home, I'm going home
Going home
"Dropping in on you my friend
Is just like old times"
Said the fool who signed the paper
To assorted slimes
It's hard to get blood from a stone
But for you I'll give it a try
To provide your accommodations
And leave you satisfied
You'd think it was easy
To give your life away
To not have to live up to
The promises you made
Going home, I'm going home
Going home, I'm going home
Going home
Elusively she cut the phone
Moved from cell to cell
Really looking remarkable
And obviously doing well
Made a turn on a wooden bridge
Into the battleground
With a thousand warriors on the ridge
She tried to turn her radio down
Battle drums were pounding
All around her car
She saw her clothes were changing
Into sky and stars
I'm going home, I'm going home
Going home, I'm going home
Going home, I'm going home
Going home, I'm going home
Going home, I'm going home
Going home, I'm going home
Making his last stand
With the Indians all around you
And his gun in his hand
Such a wind was blowing that day
Through the battleground
I could feel it in my hair
As I turned towards downtown
Weaving through the buildings
Cutting though the streets
Slicing through the culture
Piling on the weeks
Going home, I'm going home
Going home, I'm going home
Going home
"Dropping in on you my friend
Is just like old times"
Said the fool who signed the paper
To assorted slimes
It's hard to get blood from a stone
But for you I'll give it a try
To provide your accommodations
And leave you satisfied
You'd think it was easy
To give your life away
To not have to live up to
The promises you made
Going home, I'm going home
Going home, I'm going home
Going home
Elusively she cut the phone
Moved from cell to cell
Really looking remarkable
And obviously doing well
Made a turn on a wooden bridge
Into the battleground
With a thousand warriors on the ridge
She tried to turn her radio down
Battle drums were pounding
All around her car
She saw her clothes were changing
Into sky and stars
I'm going home, I'm going home
Going home, I'm going home
Going home, I'm going home
Going home, I'm going home
Going home, I'm going home
Going home, I'm going home
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I always thought this was a retrospective look from a Native American who was 'americanized' perhaps through the mandatory indian boarding school brought forth in the Civilization Fund Act.
Retrospective: On the hill where Custer was, Making his last stand, With the Indians all around, And his gun in his hand.
Retrospective blending into current time: Such a wind was blowing that day, Through the battleground, I could feel it in my hair, As I turned towards downtown.
In the Indian boarding schools they were forced to cut their hair in an effort to 'Americanize' The hair here symbolizes the shift from the tribal culture to the 'americanized' culture (i.e. downtown)
Weaving through the buildings, Cutting though the streets, Slicing through the culture, Piling on the weeks.
Evident enough, the americanization has sliced through the previous culture, the further along (deeper) they are engrossed the more cut-up the tribal culture becomes
Dropping in on you my friend, Is just like old times, Said the fool who signed the paper, To assorted slimes.
This is a example dialog between a tribal villager unsure of the contract signing their children (land/lively-hood) away.
You'd think it was easy, To give your life away, To not have to live up to, The promises you made.
The callousness of the American government in ignoring the tremendous sacrifices faced by these children. They had made promises to their village, tribe, land prior to leaving.
My favorite song from Neil Young. Awesome!
Been a while since I've tried to get through all of 'Are You Passionate', and IDK if I'd be able to now, but when I'd first bought it, this was the only song I could even stand.
Neil's one of the best rockers/writers ever, and he can do many things well. Memphis Soul is not one of them lol.