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.
Shots rang out
Valentine's Day
Fragrant remnants of a strewn bouquet
A lovers' bloody quarrel
Sweet chocolates gone to waste
He took the petty cash
And drove through California State
In a San Fernando pool hall
He caught the eye of some young broad
Turns out the girl is only seventeen and thinks criminals are God
She was pretty
As pretty as a runaway can be
And he was crazy for her
As crazy as a crazy person can be
The motel window framed her face
A wash of lemon line
Sallow yellow skin
Sour green eyes
Left in the drawer with the Bible
An old syringe
"God is lethal," he says with a knowing grin
Don't you forget about your past, boy
Don't you forget about the gun
Don't you forget about Mexico
That's where you're gonna run
Picture postcard
She stole the night before
With a dirty magazine
From the local convenience store
A photo of Paris at night
The Eiffel tower in lights
An unsatisfied looking debutant
Flip side read "je t'amie mon amour"
Paris, France
Don't you forget about your past, girl
Don't you forget about the streets
Don't you forget about the cold air
When you're lying on that beach
She's scared this back road has a dead end
And that he won't fly her to the moon
"Well, just sit tight, babe,
We're gonna be in Mexico real soon
So just sit there and don't say another word
Before I go and hurt someone
Before I go and take this gun
And hurt someone
I'll hurt someone"
Valentine's Day
Fragrant remnants of a strewn bouquet
A lovers' bloody quarrel
Sweet chocolates gone to waste
He took the petty cash
And drove through California State
In a San Fernando pool hall
He caught the eye of some young broad
Turns out the girl is only seventeen and thinks criminals are God
She was pretty
As pretty as a runaway can be
And he was crazy for her
As crazy as a crazy person can be
The motel window framed her face
A wash of lemon line
Sallow yellow skin
Sour green eyes
Left in the drawer with the Bible
An old syringe
"God is lethal," he says with a knowing grin
Don't you forget about your past, boy
Don't you forget about the gun
Don't you forget about Mexico
That's where you're gonna run
Picture postcard
She stole the night before
With a dirty magazine
From the local convenience store
A photo of Paris at night
The Eiffel tower in lights
An unsatisfied looking debutant
Flip side read "je t'amie mon amour"
Paris, France
Don't you forget about your past, girl
Don't you forget about the streets
Don't you forget about the cold air
When you're lying on that beach
She's scared this back road has a dead end
And that he won't fly her to the moon
"Well, just sit tight, babe,
We're gonna be in Mexico real soon
So just sit there and don't say another word
Before I go and hurt someone
Before I go and take this gun
And hurt someone
I'll hurt someone"
Lyrics submitted by limari
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.