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.
Baby ballerina's hiding
Somewhere in the corner
Where the shadow wraps around her
And our torches cannot find her
She will stay there till the morning
Crawl behind us as we are yawning
And she will leave our games
To never be the same
So grow tall, sugarcane
Eat that soil, drink the rain
But know they'll chase you
If you play their little games
So run, run fast, sugarcane
You see my peep show booth is handy
There's a one way only mirror
So I can dance here with my hair down
But I don't see if you get bitter
And there's a button right beside me
If I happen to want a wall to hide me
If only the ballerina had one too
So grow tall, sugarcane
Eat that soil, drink the rain
But know they'll chase you
If you play their little games
So run, run fast, sugarcane
And she said, "Always be afraid"
Yes, she said, "Always be afraid"
So grow tall, sugarcane
Eat that soil, drink the rain
But know they'll chase you
If you play their little games
So run, run fast, sugarcane
Yeah, you'd better run, run fast, sugarcane
Yeah, you'd better run, run fast sugarcane
Somewhere in the corner
Where the shadow wraps around her
And our torches cannot find her
She will stay there till the morning
Crawl behind us as we are yawning
And she will leave our games
To never be the same
So grow tall, sugarcane
Eat that soil, drink the rain
But know they'll chase you
If you play their little games
So run, run fast, sugarcane
You see my peep show booth is handy
There's a one way only mirror
So I can dance here with my hair down
But I don't see if you get bitter
And there's a button right beside me
If I happen to want a wall to hide me
If only the ballerina had one too
So grow tall, sugarcane
Eat that soil, drink the rain
But know they'll chase you
If you play their little games
So run, run fast, sugarcane
And she said, "Always be afraid"
Yes, she said, "Always be afraid"
So grow tall, sugarcane
Eat that soil, drink the rain
But know they'll chase you
If you play their little games
So run, run fast, sugarcane
Yeah, you'd better run, run fast, sugarcane
Yeah, you'd better run, run fast sugarcane
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I love this song too, but i really really can't figure out what it means - and i've really tried. has anyone got any ideas? I was hoping to go to missy's concert but unfortunately missed out. I don't suppose there are any auzzies here who have been already - perhaps she's talked a little about the song?
@letheredge for me personally it's about mental abuse, more specifically bullying and all the ramifications of it. The whole metaphor of the ballerina is the personification of your younger self, like in the second verse where she wishes the ballerina could hide herself the way the narrator can now. "She will leave our games to never be the same" - being abused so much and being torn as to whether stand up or to hide and hope you stay invisible, the whole imagery of the mirror and button in the second verse is referring to the wall you learn to put up; and being able to be free to dance in your own mind without the contant worrying about others opinions. <br /> The chorus is the older self telling the ballerina (younger self) to look after herself no matter what, to 'eat the soil and drink the rain" to grow above the abuse and pain so you can run.<br /> A song all about personal hindsight.