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.
So stand close to me
Don't sail away, baby
Let them see your heart
Let 'em see just how beautiful you are
So you head on down
To the bottom near the river
Just to wash away
All the pain of today and yesterday
And you try so hard
To wash away the spots
But your tears
Don't seem to do enough
It's just too much
Well, darling grab a hand
We promise not to let you stand alone
So stand close to me
Don't sail away, baby
Let them see your heart
Let 'em see just how beautiful you are
You're like nobody else, you see
Nothing less than any girl in your magazine
Don't you know you're special?
You're really something special
Baby
So you look into
You look into the water
And there you are
Just the way you left yourself
All alone
But lift your head
And look across the water
'Cause there you'll see
All of us together singing
Darling grab a hand
We promise not to let you stand alone
So stand close to me
Don't sail away, baby
Let them see your heart
Let 'em see just how beautiful you are
You're like nobody else, you see
Nothing less than any girl in your magazine
Don't you know you're special?
You're really something special
Baby
Darling grab a hand
We won't let you go
Darling grab a hand
We promise not to let you stand alone
So stand close to me
Don't sail away, baby
Let them see your heart
Let 'em see just how beautiful you are
You're like nobody else, you see
Nothing less than any girl in your magazine
Don't you know you're special?
You're really something special
Baby, yeah
Don't sail away, baby
Let them see your heart
Let 'em see just how beautiful you are
So you head on down
To the bottom near the river
Just to wash away
All the pain of today and yesterday
And you try so hard
To wash away the spots
But your tears
Don't seem to do enough
It's just too much
Well, darling grab a hand
We promise not to let you stand alone
So stand close to me
Don't sail away, baby
Let them see your heart
Let 'em see just how beautiful you are
You're like nobody else, you see
Nothing less than any girl in your magazine
Don't you know you're special?
You're really something special
Baby
So you look into
You look into the water
And there you are
Just the way you left yourself
All alone
But lift your head
And look across the water
'Cause there you'll see
All of us together singing
Darling grab a hand
We promise not to let you stand alone
So stand close to me
Don't sail away, baby
Let them see your heart
Let 'em see just how beautiful you are
You're like nobody else, you see
Nothing less than any girl in your magazine
Don't you know you're special?
You're really something special
Baby
Darling grab a hand
We won't let you go
Darling grab a hand
We promise not to let you stand alone
So stand close to me
Don't sail away, baby
Let them see your heart
Let 'em see just how beautiful you are
You're like nobody else, you see
Nothing less than any girl in your magazine
Don't you know you're special?
You're really something special
Baby, yeah
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
This is actually my favorite song by them. Maybe the lyrics aren't as great as they are in the others, but the song itself is definately my favorite.
The beat and voices always make me smile. :] I love the part, "You are like nobody else you see, Nothing less than any girl in your magazine."
'Jayknight' pretty much covered the meaning. :]