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.
Gillian played me a song
It was that day when everything was wrong
Gillian singing in my heart – in my ears
And tears running down
I was facing the ground
Gillian played me a song i was so tired then
The music caressed my skin
Just like when someone finally holds you
And you can give in
This you've been avoiding
You think you'll fall apart but
It's just that new start
She sang about Elvis she sang about time
Gillian sang about Miss Ohio and
That last remaining song
I stretch my rigid fingers i clear my throat
This will be all over soon
Now this is long ago
I listen to her and I go back
To that day that month – that year
That day will never leave my mind
Gillian played me a song
Gillian played me a song
It was that day when everything was wrong
Gillian singing in my heart – in my ears
And tears running down
I was facing the ground
It was that day when everything was wrong
Gillian singing in my heart – in my ears
And tears running down
I was facing the ground
Gillian played me a song i was so tired then
The music caressed my skin
Just like when someone finally holds you
And you can give in
This you've been avoiding
You think you'll fall apart but
It's just that new start
She sang about Elvis she sang about time
Gillian sang about Miss Ohio and
That last remaining song
I stretch my rigid fingers i clear my throat
This will be all over soon
Now this is long ago
I listen to her and I go back
To that day that month – that year
That day will never leave my mind
Gillian played me a song
Gillian played me a song
It was that day when everything was wrong
Gillian singing in my heart – in my ears
And tears running down
I was facing the ground
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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,
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
As if this song just has my name in it. I am clearly going to be a big fan of it. It definetly sounds like a song that would be about me =)
wait i just heard the song...and they pronounce gillian absolutely retarded-ly. =(
I love this song soooooo much, I cant understand why there arent more comments?!
this song is about gillian welch, isn't it? really nice song