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.
Let fall your soft and swaying skirt
Let fall your shoes, let fall your shirt
I'm not the lady-killing sort
Enough to hurt a girl in port
Marie's gone blonde and lost a stone
She lay on her lawn, spun and alone
And when the morning sun it rose
Upon Marie and her lacy clothes
Well, it lit her up, and she walked around
The winding streets of Camden Town
Well, she don't know who she wants to be
And if I knew I'd tell Marie
Let fall your soft and swaying skirt
Let fall your shoes, let fall your shirt
I'm not the lady-killing sort
Enough to hurt a girl in port
And Cindy tells me she's had fun
Sitting backstage, someone's plus one
Up in her room the records spin
Needle in the grooves that she's worn thin
Well, she lifts her sleeve and she sees a name
And she's got a smile on her face
And she's got a story you can't see
Well, that's just between that name and Cindy
And before Holly made her way
Over the sea and far away
She's telling me inside her car
Driving us back from the Crystal Corner bar
I lost her there, I fell from hell
Cut some fresh pieces from myself
And then for a second something in me
Said leave today, it's time, Holly, it's time
Oh, I'm a weak and lonely sort
Though I'm not sailing just for sport
I've come to feel out on the sea
These urgent lives press against me
I'm just aghast, I'm not apart
My tender head with my easy heart
These several years out on the sea
Made me empty, cold and clear
Pour yourself into me
Let fall your soft and swaying skirt
Let fall your shoes, let fall your shirt
I'm not the lady-killing sort
Enough to hurt the girl in port
Let fall your shoes, let fall your shirt
I'm not the lady-killing sort
Enough to hurt a girl in port
Marie's gone blonde and lost a stone
She lay on her lawn, spun and alone
And when the morning sun it rose
Upon Marie and her lacy clothes
Well, it lit her up, and she walked around
The winding streets of Camden Town
Well, she don't know who she wants to be
And if I knew I'd tell Marie
Let fall your soft and swaying skirt
Let fall your shoes, let fall your shirt
I'm not the lady-killing sort
Enough to hurt a girl in port
And Cindy tells me she's had fun
Sitting backstage, someone's plus one
Up in her room the records spin
Needle in the grooves that she's worn thin
Well, she lifts her sleeve and she sees a name
And she's got a smile on her face
And she's got a story you can't see
Well, that's just between that name and Cindy
And before Holly made her way
Over the sea and far away
She's telling me inside her car
Driving us back from the Crystal Corner bar
I lost her there, I fell from hell
Cut some fresh pieces from myself
And then for a second something in me
Said leave today, it's time, Holly, it's time
Oh, I'm a weak and lonely sort
Though I'm not sailing just for sport
I've come to feel out on the sea
These urgent lives press against me
I'm just aghast, I'm not apart
My tender head with my easy heart
These several years out on the sea
Made me empty, cold and clear
Pour yourself into me
Let fall your soft and swaying skirt
Let fall your shoes, let fall your shirt
I'm not the lady-killing sort
Enough to hurt the girl in port
Lyrics submitted by smileforthecamera
A Girl in Port Lyrics as written by Will Robinson Sheff
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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