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.
You were right
I was up all night thinking about you
Dreamed I choked on your kaleidescope
They still looked deadly
My fatal flower
How the tigers all laughed
As I ran along the well worn path
Sapphire eye looks
Down on my lilacs
Down on my lilacs
Down on my lilacs
Down on me
Down on me
Down on
Insincere as we rolled for years in turning barrels
I wash my hands in a lake
Cause she threw it all away with roman candles
So take your fever
Let me wallow alone
The callous on your eyes have grown
Sapphire eye looks
Down on my lilacs
Down on my lilacs
Down on my lilacs
Down on me
Down on me
Down on
And your faults have me stoned
Paying rent to your ghost
Torn up by a frightened little girl
I thought that you were right
So I was up all night thinking about you
I thought you were right
You were right
You were right
You were
You were right & I was up all night thinking about you
And I couldn't speak
Covered with bees you flew above me
Figure it all out
I think you've had enough time
I've had long enough to change my mind
Sapphire eye looks
Down on my lilacs
Down on my lilacs
Down on my lilacs
Down on me
Down on me
Down on
And your faults have me stoned
Paying rent to your ghost
Torn up by a frightened little girl
I thought that you were right
And I was up all night thinking about you
You were right so I was up all night thinking about you
I thought you were right
You were right
You were right
You were
I was up all night thinking about you
Dreamed I choked on your kaleidescope
They still looked deadly
My fatal flower
How the tigers all laughed
As I ran along the well worn path
Sapphire eye looks
Down on my lilacs
Down on my lilacs
Down on my lilacs
Down on me
Down on me
Down on
Insincere as we rolled for years in turning barrels
I wash my hands in a lake
Cause she threw it all away with roman candles
So take your fever
Let me wallow alone
The callous on your eyes have grown
Sapphire eye looks
Down on my lilacs
Down on my lilacs
Down on my lilacs
Down on me
Down on me
Down on
And your faults have me stoned
Paying rent to your ghost
Torn up by a frightened little girl
I thought that you were right
So I was up all night thinking about you
I thought you were right
You were right
You were right
You were
You were right & I was up all night thinking about you
And I couldn't speak
Covered with bees you flew above me
Figure it all out
I think you've had enough time
I've had long enough to change my mind
Sapphire eye looks
Down on my lilacs
Down on my lilacs
Down on my lilacs
Down on me
Down on me
Down on
And your faults have me stoned
Paying rent to your ghost
Torn up by a frightened little girl
I thought that you were right
And I was up all night thinking about you
You were right so I was up all night thinking about you
I thought you were right
You were right
You were right
You were
Lyrics submitted by DinosaurSayRawr
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This song is great
ugh! how does this song not have more comments? one of my favorites by costa. i'm a little confused about what it means. it could mean many different things. this is what i think (i might be totally off, so sorry if i look like an idiot) basically, a girl used to really like him and he never felt the same about her and he sort of rejected her. now, she's moved on and he's realized he DOES have feelings for her and now it's too late. i think the line "paying rent to your ghost" means they still talk, but she gives him the cold shoulder and he still gives her tons of attention, and she looks the other way. and the repition of "you were right" might mean that at one point, she hinted that they should be together, and now he realized she was right.
This is one of my fav Matt Costa songs too. Just love it. Not too sure about the meaning either, but I just love the way it sounds...ie, <br /> <br /> "The callous on your eyes have grown<br /> Sapphire eye looks<br /> Down on my lilacs..."<br /> <br /> Just kind of rolls of the tongue and, "covered w bees you few above me." Idk, it's almost whimsical.
Ok, I will start by saying that I absolutely love this song as well.
The line that interests me most is the chorus, "sapphire eye looks down on my lilacs." Sapphire is a blue birth stone. Lilacs are a purple flower that is symbolic of love's first emotions. I think this is trying to convey the feelings he has for a girl. Her blue eyes are looking down on his excitement of the relationship.
As the song goes on, this girls seems to be abusive almost. If you look closely at the lyrics, it starts off with "You were right and I was up all night thinking about you" but later in the song it says "I THOUGHT that you were right..." Perhaps by the end of the song he realizes that the girl, herself, is torn up on the inside and that's why she is treating him this way. This second part I'm a little iffy on, but I like how poetic this song is.
This song is great