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.
He made an enemy then, he made an enemy of all of you
It’s him, not you.
You never heard it from me but there’s a breach in the hull of the truth
And the water’s too deep to prove.
He made an enemy then, he made an enemy of all of you
It’s him, not you.
It’s a little red sea let the miracle worker go free
See the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the man falls in the sea.
He was a man of many nations, had a hundred souls and a hundred to go
He was a man of many nations, two hearts, two hands, it’s a slippery slope.
He had a fear of being naked, but you’re any other man in another man’s clothes
He was a man of many nations, of revelations, oh revelations.
He wrote a book about the Bible and he wrote a book about men in the sky
He wrote a book about the smell of winter then two, a little less simple to decipher
Saying, “I am the water at the foot of the palms, oh I am sand and wind and shitty mirage, but either way, I’m a man of many nations.”
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running it around? Was it the mending of the gown, or the running and the running it around?
She had a name, she had a spirit, she had a line in the play if you wanted to hear it.
But the master of disguises, her demise was her design, they said.
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running, and the running and the running it around?
She said my name and my spirit are both corrupt and if you hold me close, you gotta hold me up.
It was the tender mending of this slender gown that brought me bending to the ground.
Now you’ll wear any old thing, oh you’ll wear any old thing.
So she wrapped herself in swaddling, that the fever deviated to a broken wing,
It’s an act; I think she’s just pretending. It’s an act; I think she’s just pretending.
If you burn the virgin flags, then I will shake (Shake!) as the heat waves in the sand.
This one’s for Maggie, this one’s for Sam.
This one’s for Maggie, this one’s for Sam.
Oh, any other random spirit lover busted, I have lusted after you…
The way bloodsuckers do!
The way bloodsuckers do!
The way bloodsuckers do!
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running it around?
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running and the running and the running and the running it around?
It was the tender mending of this slender gown that brought me bending to the ground.
BUT THIS SHIP WAS BUILT TO GO DOWN
SEE THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
Whoah-oh-oh…
It’s him, not you.
You never heard it from me but there’s a breach in the hull of the truth
And the water’s too deep to prove.
He made an enemy then, he made an enemy of all of you
It’s him, not you.
It’s a little red sea let the miracle worker go free
See the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the paddle go up, and the paddle go down
And the man falls in the sea.
He was a man of many nations, had a hundred souls and a hundred to go
He was a man of many nations, two hearts, two hands, it’s a slippery slope.
He had a fear of being naked, but you’re any other man in another man’s clothes
He was a man of many nations, of revelations, oh revelations.
He wrote a book about the Bible and he wrote a book about men in the sky
He wrote a book about the smell of winter then two, a little less simple to decipher
Saying, “I am the water at the foot of the palms, oh I am sand and wind and shitty mirage, but either way, I’m a man of many nations.”
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running it around? Was it the mending of the gown, or the running and the running it around?
She had a name, she had a spirit, she had a line in the play if you wanted to hear it.
But the master of disguises, her demise was her design, they said.
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running, and the running and the running it around?
She said my name and my spirit are both corrupt and if you hold me close, you gotta hold me up.
It was the tender mending of this slender gown that brought me bending to the ground.
Now you’ll wear any old thing, oh you’ll wear any old thing.
So she wrapped herself in swaddling, that the fever deviated to a broken wing,
It’s an act; I think she’s just pretending. It’s an act; I think she’s just pretending.
If you burn the virgin flags, then I will shake (Shake!) as the heat waves in the sand.
This one’s for Maggie, this one’s for Sam.
This one’s for Maggie, this one’s for Sam.
Oh, any other random spirit lover busted, I have lusted after you…
The way bloodsuckers do!
The way bloodsuckers do!
The way bloodsuckers do!
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running it around?
Was it the mending of the gown, or the running and the running and the running and the running it around?
It was the tender mending of this slender gown that brought me bending to the ground.
BUT THIS SHIP WAS BUILT TO GO DOWN
SEE THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
AND THE PADDLE GO UP AND THE PADDLE GO DOWN!
Whoah-oh-oh…
Lyrics submitted by sidelines, edited by scottith, smileyoureontv
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"it's an act I THINK, she's just pretending."
not "an actor thing"