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.
When am I supposed to say so long?
When am I supposed to say so long?
When I fall in love 'fore dusk is dawn
When you take my hand across the lawn
With the eyes so sweet they're like a fawn
Red elephant is wet & long...
How am I supposed to wash you off?
Rungs of bad poems I've hacked & coughed
But I have to spare a breath for you
Which I'll take, before we make anew
Our hearts will take a stroll for two
Our feet will take the avenue
& Walk in unison, so cute
Red elephant is turning blue
Why am I here when you're over there?
Let's meet at the fountains
In Dundas Square
Who am I supposed to be with you?
I'll wait 'til you say & pretend I knew
Because if it's true that walls can talk
How mine would brag of tears I've sobbed
When thinking of the way we walked
Along the paths of sideway chalk
Forever under ticking clock
Where you & I are free to flock
What can I write when I know it's wrong?
Slapping my knee to my own damn song
Where can we go when the sinking stops?
To the pit of my chest
As it drops and drops...
Put your head upon my chest, it breathes
& My fingers through your hair they weave
& Your shoulders are the perfect sea
In which I get lost invariably
Oh the elephant is up to sea
If it meets the peach fish underneath
& When I am you and you are me
We are stirred as spoons in lover's tea
When am I supposed to say so long?
When I fall in love 'fore dusk is dawn
When you take my hand across the lawn
With the eyes so sweet they're like a fawn
Red elephant is wet & long...
How am I supposed to wash you off?
Rungs of bad poems I've hacked & coughed
But I have to spare a breath for you
Which I'll take, before we make anew
Our hearts will take a stroll for two
Our feet will take the avenue
& Walk in unison, so cute
Red elephant is turning blue
Why am I here when you're over there?
Let's meet at the fountains
In Dundas Square
Who am I supposed to be with you?
I'll wait 'til you say & pretend I knew
Because if it's true that walls can talk
How mine would brag of tears I've sobbed
When thinking of the way we walked
Along the paths of sideway chalk
Forever under ticking clock
Where you & I are free to flock
What can I write when I know it's wrong?
Slapping my knee to my own damn song
Where can we go when the sinking stops?
To the pit of my chest
As it drops and drops...
Put your head upon my chest, it breathes
& My fingers through your hair they weave
& Your shoulders are the perfect sea
In which I get lost invariably
Oh the elephant is up to sea
If it meets the peach fish underneath
& When I am you and you are me
We are stirred as spoons in lover's tea
Lyrics submitted by fortune500b
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
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I'm almost 100% sure red elephant is being used as an analogy for his penis. In the beginning of the relationship he's very attracted to her, but they're taking it slow. So, his "red elephant" is wet and long. Then, as their relationship deepens, and they still haven't had sex, the red elephant is turning blue (aka "blue balls"). By the end, I believe he's describing them having sex. In a sweet sort of childish way. I still find this song incredibly charming despite the innuendo.
Dundas Square is a public square in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
this song to me seems to go back and forth between being in love and having lost it and the gamut of emotions that are felt. is it just me or could red elephant be a metonym for something sexual?
This is exactly what the song means. It's about trying to quit a relationship- but not being able to, when being with them feels so right. (and yes. the red elephant is most definitely his penis)
i think its about young love/sex
"Peachfish" means vagina. The term was invented by Tom Robbins in my favorite book, Still Life With Woodpecker. I love them so much more for that allusion; I didn't even know I had the capacity to do that.
this song is beautiful.
sometimes you just don't know what it all means.
the last line of this song makes it for me. so good
I think this song is also about young love. And when you're young, you aren't sure if it is going to last forever, but you sure hope so. At least that is what it means to me.
great song. love the lyrics.
except "red elephant is turning blue" is actually "But I have to spare a breath for you" :)
haha just kidding i can't read. ignore my correction
very cute love song, i love the last line "we are stirred as spoons in lover's tea" ...still considering the red elephant being a penis hmmm not sure