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.
It's so quiet on these windswept days
The city lights look golden rays
The sunlight on a subway track
So you're mad again
If you like, I'll take it back
They're just your feelings
I wasn't looking at her eyes
Oh, do you mean it?
It's so lonesome in this happenstance
If you asked me, yes, I'd like to dance
Just show me your blood-covered hand
A perfumed dress is more than I can stand
And you approach me
With your hollow heart in hand
And you tell me:
It's not civilised
It's not fair to me
The blues, the greys
The olive greens
I'll take you far away from me
The girls in their summer dress, see?
Though you don't notice
They all look back at me
Is this on purpose?
Oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
May I offer you this one olive branch?
It's not as though you're always so keyed
And we're both just the victims of circumstance
Do you understand, do you know what I mean?
Oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
(No, no, no)
I'm a husband first, I'm a childless curse
I'm a faithful man, with a faceless thirst
I'll stay with you, but please don't side
Tried to explain, but you cry and cry and cry
And you hate me when I ask the reason why
You'll trade me a dollar for some sense
But don't blame me, I was only making sense
Oh, I'm so sorry, I was only making sense
The city lights look golden rays
The sunlight on a subway track
So you're mad again
If you like, I'll take it back
They're just your feelings
I wasn't looking at her eyes
Oh, do you mean it?
It's so lonesome in this happenstance
If you asked me, yes, I'd like to dance
Just show me your blood-covered hand
A perfumed dress is more than I can stand
And you approach me
With your hollow heart in hand
And you tell me:
It's not civilised
It's not fair to me
The blues, the greys
The olive greens
I'll take you far away from me
The girls in their summer dress, see?
Though you don't notice
They all look back at me
Is this on purpose?
Oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
May I offer you this one olive branch?
It's not as though you're always so keyed
And we're both just the victims of circumstance
Do you understand, do you know what I mean?
Oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
Oh, no, no, no!
(No, no, no)
I'm a husband first, I'm a childless curse
I'm a faithful man, with a faceless thirst
I'll stay with you, but please don't side
Tried to explain, but you cry and cry and cry
And you hate me when I ask the reason why
You'll trade me a dollar for some sense
But don't blame me, I was only making sense
Oh, I'm so sorry, I was only making sense
Lyrics submitted by shrodes
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classicshorts.com/stories/dresses.html
some of these lyrics aren't correct