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.
My telephone never rings
She'd never call me
I hate myself today
But I can see through this bitterness and sadness
And so I won't die
Someday I think I'll be dignified and old
Well my friends say I deceive myself
And that I contradict myself
And I can't say if they're right
But I'm not ashamed
Oh, I can take a challenge
And so I won't die
Someday I'll be dignified and old
I know it
And I say hey kids
(Hey kids)
I said hey kids
(Hey kids)
I said someday we'll be dignified and old
That's right, I said
Someday we'll be dignified (hey kids, hey kids)
Someday we'll be dignified (hey kids, hey kids)
Someday we could be dignified and old together
Well now, look at the mountain
My girl and I used to stand on the mountain
And the sun shines, she's dead, and I cry
But I can see through this death and the sadness
And so I won't die now
Someday I wanna be dignified and old
Well now, see the desert
I sit all alone in the desert
And no girl understands me
But I can see through this bleakness and grey and sadness
And, well, I won't die now
Someday I'll be dignified and old
I say hey, you, don't die now
Someday we'll be dignified and old together
She'd never call me
I hate myself today
But I can see through this bitterness and sadness
And so I won't die
Someday I think I'll be dignified and old
Well my friends say I deceive myself
And that I contradict myself
And I can't say if they're right
But I'm not ashamed
Oh, I can take a challenge
And so I won't die
Someday I'll be dignified and old
I know it
And I say hey kids
(Hey kids)
I said hey kids
(Hey kids)
I said someday we'll be dignified and old
That's right, I said
Someday we'll be dignified (hey kids, hey kids)
Someday we'll be dignified (hey kids, hey kids)
Someday we could be dignified and old together
Well now, look at the mountain
My girl and I used to stand on the mountain
And the sun shines, she's dead, and I cry
But I can see through this death and the sadness
And so I won't die now
Someday I wanna be dignified and old
Well now, see the desert
I sit all alone in the desert
And no girl understands me
But I can see through this bleakness and grey and sadness
And, well, I won't die now
Someday I'll be dignified and old
I say hey, you, don't die now
Someday we'll be dignified and old together
Lyrics submitted by erik.yefeng
Dignified and Old Lyrics as written by Jonathan Michael Richman
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
well...i'll just be the first to comment that I absolutely love this song.
I presume it's merely about his isolating himself & thinking about how things used to be and how he's doing it because he thinks it makes him a better person, but this is like the sad realization that it hasn't and he's left with no one.
It's a good thing not to die, but to be dignified and old someday!:)
I love this song too. There's something brave and tragic about it; I picture him holding someone who has O.D'd or something, saying "Don't you die now" (as he says at the end of the LP version). It chokes me up, yet at the same time it's almost humourous musically - the cheerfully rocking chords, all the "Hey kids." Songs that are funny and tragic and brave and tongue in cheek all at the same time are few and far between. Perhaps hand in glove by the smiths.