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.
Misty cold nights
You’ll hear her sigh
And sing bitter
sweet lullabies
For years she prayed
The saints would cast
a spell for the
forest to let her go
She sings…
She dreams…
She prays…
She sings…
she plays...
she stays...
Ahh Ahhhh
Ahh Ahhhh
The black old well
Holds ancient tales
And makes all wishes come true
So throw your dream
Into the dark
And Blue will come for you
You’ll hear her sigh
And sing bitter
sweet lullabies
For years she prayed
The saints would cast
a spell for the
forest to let her go
She sings…
She dreams…
She prays…
She sings…
she plays...
she stays...
Ahh Ahhhh
Ahh Ahhhh
The black old well
Holds ancient tales
And makes all wishes come true
So throw your dream
Into the dark
And Blue will come for you
Lyrics submitted by anastasia_gloom
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
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
I think that there was an interview that mentioned that this song was based on one of the legends about an actual well in either Scotland or Ireland, I don't remember which at the moment.
The way I choose to interpret it is that a woman cast a wish on this well and was trapped by it. She haunts the area, wishing for someone to release her from the forest.
I think the last verse is saying that casting a foolish or selfish wish on the well will give the wisher the same result as the woman.
Anyone else sense a loss of all hope and wonder in life with this one?
I originally interpretted that the ghost of a woman haunts a forest, supposedly where the well is. Only the spell from a holy man or someone of the sort can allow her spirit to go to the other side. From Satakieli's comment, the woman probably made a wish that eventually caused her death... And now she is doomed to haunt the well for all eternity.