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.
Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while
The feeling that I'm losing her forever
And without really entering her world
I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl
Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Sleep in our eyes, her and me at the breakfast table
Barely awake, I let precious time go by
Then when she's gone, there's that odd melancholy feeling
And a sense of guilt I can't deny
What happened to the wonderful adventures
The places I had planned for us to go
(Slipping through my fingers all the time)
Well, some of that we did but most we didn't
And why, I just don't know
Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture
And save it from the funny tricks of time
Slipping through my fingers
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Schoolbag in hand she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while
The feeling that I'm losing her forever
And without really entering her world
I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl
Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Sleep in our eyes, her and me at the breakfast table
Barely awake, I let precious time go by
Then when she's gone, there's that odd melancholy feeling
And a sense of guilt I can't deny
What happened to the wonderful adventures
The places I had planned for us to go
(Slipping through my fingers all the time)
Well, some of that we did but most we didn't
And why, I just don't know
Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture
And save it from the funny tricks of time
Slipping through my fingers
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Schoolbag in hand she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
Lyrics submitted by IrishPride17
Slipping Through My Fingers Lyrics as written by Bjoern K. Ulvaeus Benny Goran Bror Andersson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song is so beautiful, but I hate it because it makes me cry every single time. It perfectly describes the relationship between my mother and myself, and makes me feel incredibly guilty by reminding me of all the wasted time we could have used, and just thinking about having to grow up and leave home and everything. I'm crying just thinking of it now!
Still, that just shows what a brilliant song it is - having this effect on people. :) Also I should say when I say 'hate' I don't mean 'hate'. I just don't like it making me cry and that. :P
I am exactly the same way - feeling that way about the time I've spent with my mother. Sniffle. It's a beautiful song.
Could anyone bettersum up the feelings of a parent who's realised that from the moment of birth all children gradually drift away from them? ... hearbreaking, deeply touching and just beautiful.... Love Love Love Abba Visitors Album.. :)
Could anyone bettersum up the feelings of a parent who's realised that from the moment of birth all children gradually drift away from them? ... hearbreaking, deeply touching and just beautiful.... Love Love Love Abba Visitors Album.. :)
This songs so nice! I think its just a song about someone watching their child growing up, and drifting away. Sad in a small sort of way, because it'll always be that people grow up, want a life of their own, have a family, and just when their growing more and more attatched to their family, the children become less and less.
Love of a mother for her daugher leaving for sure, letting go and the guiilt that that ensues; but also letting go in general, Being gay and having no children, I always remember my departed mother when i listen to the song. I also remember all the special people who have been, and are in my life.
When I first heard this song tears came to my eyes. It describes wonderfully how a mother must feel watching her daughter grow up. I wonder if my mother feels that way about me...
I heard this song the first time that my mother & I watched "Mamma Mia" the movie. I teared up. I know my mom sat there and cried. She kept hiding her face. The song was play while Meryl Streep was helping her daughter get ready for the wedding. I'm getting married this October, and I know that is what my mom was thinking about.
This is such a beautiful, powerful song. I'm a 49 year old man and I can barely listen to it because it makes me cry.
Every parent knows that being a parent is equal parts joy, pain and guilt, and this song captures this perfectly.
The line:
'I let precious time go by Then when she's gone, there's that odd melancholy feeling And a sense of guilt I can't deny What happened to the wonderful adventures The places I had planned for us to go Well some of that we did but most we didn't And why, I just don't know...'
just kills me and is more confirmation, as if it were needed, of ABBA's genius.