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.
Someone found a letter you wrote me, on the radio
And they told the world just how you felt
It must have fallen out of a hole in your old brown overcoat
They never said your name
But I knew just who they meant.
Whoa I was so surprised and shocked, and I wondered, too
If by chance you heard it for yourself
I never told a soul just how I've been feeling over you
But they said it really loud, they said it on the air
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa oh oh oh
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
Now, now
Don't it kinda strike you sad when you hear our song
Things are not the same since we broke up last June
The only thing that I want to hear is that you love me still
And that you think you'll be comin' home real soon
Whoa, oh, yeah, yeah
And it made me feel proud when I heard you say
You couldn't find the words to say it yourself
And now in my heart I know I can say what I really feel
'Cause they said it really loud, they said it on the air
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa oh oh
On the radio
If you think that love isn't found on the radio
Well tune right in you made find the love you lost
'Cause now I'm sitting here with the man I sent away long ago
It sounded really loud , they said it really loud
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
And they told the world just how you felt
It must have fallen out of a hole in your old brown overcoat
They never said your name
But I knew just who they meant.
Whoa I was so surprised and shocked, and I wondered, too
If by chance you heard it for yourself
I never told a soul just how I've been feeling over you
But they said it really loud, they said it on the air
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa oh oh oh
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
Now, now
Don't it kinda strike you sad when you hear our song
Things are not the same since we broke up last June
The only thing that I want to hear is that you love me still
And that you think you'll be comin' home real soon
Whoa, oh, yeah, yeah
And it made me feel proud when I heard you say
You couldn't find the words to say it yourself
And now in my heart I know I can say what I really feel
'Cause they said it really loud, they said it on the air
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa oh oh
On the radio
If you think that love isn't found on the radio
Well tune right in you made find the love you lost
'Cause now I'm sitting here with the man I sent away long ago
It sounded really loud , they said it really loud
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Whoa, oh, oh
On the radio
Lyrics submitted by Rachel_Anne
On the Radio Lyrics as written by Giorgio Moroder Donna A. Summer
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I love this song...but I think its about someone needing closure after a bad break up. To find that closure she convinces herself that the anonymous letter was from him to her. I think its true meaning is about how love can make someone delusional and they'd make up any story to make themselves believe anything to have closure. Its really kind of sad.
I agree completely. You can see she is stretching the plausibility of the letter being from 'him' when she says, "It must have fallen out of a hole in your old brown overcoat." It makes me feel sad for her every time I hear it. I can definitely relate.
@soforlaters Last verse, he came back...have another read.