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.
The city called me so I came
It isn't mine to question what it said
I sleep until the point when I'm awake
I walk until there's nothing left to trek
And everyone is looking for an answer
And everyone is waiting for a break
I came and I was bored of it soon after
But I had nowhere to go and so I stayed
I dreamed a lifetime of this place
It seemed an awful thing to waste
Well the morning fills my mouth up with decay
I like it, it reminds me how you taste
Sometimes I feel you rising up behind me like the wind
But I still try to look away
What will you look like when you're old?
(What will you look like when you're old?)
What will I do if I don't know you?
(What will I do if I don't know you?)
I guess that I decided not to ask the day I took the road
Down to the city as it called
Sun making silhouettes of gauze
I don't remember you at all
The city called me and I came
It isn't mine to question why
Sometimes the clouds will rise ahead, I hear your name
It's like a choir in the sky
What will you look like when you're old?
(What will you look like when you're old?)
What will I do if I don't know you?
(What will I do if I don't know you?)
I guess that I decided not to know the day I took the road
Down to the city as it called
Sun making silhouettes of gauze
I don't remember you at all
They pulled a human from my waist
It had your mouth, it had your face
I would have kept it if I'd stayed.
It isn't mine to question what it said
I sleep until the point when I'm awake
I walk until there's nothing left to trek
And everyone is looking for an answer
And everyone is waiting for a break
I came and I was bored of it soon after
But I had nowhere to go and so I stayed
I dreamed a lifetime of this place
It seemed an awful thing to waste
Well the morning fills my mouth up with decay
I like it, it reminds me how you taste
Sometimes I feel you rising up behind me like the wind
But I still try to look away
What will you look like when you're old?
(What will you look like when you're old?)
What will I do if I don't know you?
(What will I do if I don't know you?)
I guess that I decided not to ask the day I took the road
Down to the city as it called
Sun making silhouettes of gauze
I don't remember you at all
The city called me and I came
It isn't mine to question why
Sometimes the clouds will rise ahead, I hear your name
It's like a choir in the sky
What will you look like when you're old?
(What will you look like when you're old?)
What will I do if I don't know you?
(What will I do if I don't know you?)
I guess that I decided not to know the day I took the road
Down to the city as it called
Sun making silhouettes of gauze
I don't remember you at all
They pulled a human from my waist
It had your mouth, it had your face
I would have kept it if I'd stayed.
Lyrics submitted by georgiaonmymind
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I can't believe this song has no comments. It's one of those songs that just FEELS like it's moving forward. The first time I heard it I definitely watered up a little at the end.
i love this song so much.
This is one of Emmy's best, it is such a touching song.
They pulled a human from my waist It had your mouth, it had your face I would have kept it if I'd stayed.
Most certainly about an abortion, no? Just like "We Almost Had a Baby"
I didn't think "We Almost Had A Baby" is about an abortion, more a bit of carelessness and then uncertainty that came to nothing.
"What will you look like when you're old? What will I do if I don't know you? I guess that I decided not to ask the day I took the road"
"They pulled a human from my waist, It had your mouth, it had your face I would have kept it if I'd stayed."
sounds like an aborted baby to me
"I walk until there's nothing left to tread" not 'trek "sun making silhouettes of whores" not 'gauze' yea, but other than that I really love this song, or any of emmy's songs really
It's so interesting that the "you" could refer to both the child and the ex-lover. The line that kills me is "I don't remember you at all." She's trying to convince herself that this was a nothing relationship, that it was worth having an abortion to come to the city and make it big. But she still remembers every detail about him, like how he tasted, or what his face and mouth looked like.