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 go on ahead for awhile
I would like to follow you awhile
you go on ahead for awhile
I would like to just follow you awhile
and I'd like to watch the white flash of your heels as they take turns breaking the desert heat to beckon me in languages I've never learned
and I'd like to have you navigate two hills where no musicians live and on the way decide what bendings of your will you're willing to forgive
and I'd like to think the actors never banded
and I'd like to throw this trumpet down and go on empty handed
and I'd like to think I am not one of them but I know I am
so I'd like to just follow you awhile
you go on ahead for awhile
I would like to just follow you awhile
and you go on ahead for awhile
I would like to just follow you awhile
when me and the boys were out
we killed a thousand butterflies
so I put their wings into my mouth and said a prayer for our safe arrival
and then a big black car crossed our path
and I wondered whether or not that shit(ship?) was empty
you go
see the sirens and the lizards lick their tongues behind the stage
see the actor keep a ritual to keep them all at bay
he would like to come home naked without war paint on his face
and appear before you, virgin white if virgin's are still chaste
so when you've got to wait
and you've got to wait (x4)
and you've got to wait for me
and I will appear before you virgin white if virgin's are still chaste
then I'd like to just follow you awhile
and if there are two eyes in my head there are four seasons
in a year
and reflections on the water of a burning yellow sphere
and the days add up to weeks add up to months
and add up
and add up to years
and if reflections on the water sometimes look like burning tears
we can watch them change in shape without pushing off the pier
I would like to follow you awhile
you go on ahead for awhile
I would like to just follow you awhile
and I'd like to watch the white flash of your heels as they take turns breaking the desert heat to beckon me in languages I've never learned
and I'd like to have you navigate two hills where no musicians live and on the way decide what bendings of your will you're willing to forgive
and I'd like to think the actors never banded
and I'd like to throw this trumpet down and go on empty handed
and I'd like to think I am not one of them but I know I am
so I'd like to just follow you awhile
you go on ahead for awhile
I would like to just follow you awhile
and you go on ahead for awhile
I would like to just follow you awhile
when me and the boys were out
we killed a thousand butterflies
so I put their wings into my mouth and said a prayer for our safe arrival
and then a big black car crossed our path
and I wondered whether or not that shit(ship?) was empty
you go
see the sirens and the lizards lick their tongues behind the stage
see the actor keep a ritual to keep them all at bay
he would like to come home naked without war paint on his face
and appear before you, virgin white if virgin's are still chaste
so when you've got to wait
and you've got to wait (x4)
and you've got to wait for me
and I will appear before you virgin white if virgin's are still chaste
then I'd like to just follow you awhile
and if there are two eyes in my head there are four seasons
in a year
and reflections on the water of a burning yellow sphere
and the days add up to weeks add up to months
and add up
and add up to years
and if reflections on the water sometimes look like burning tears
we can watch them change in shape without pushing off the pier
Lyrics submitted by russe, edited by smileyoureontv
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Honestly it doesn't really matter nailing down an exact specific meaning because deriving your own meaning from it makes the song personal and relatable to you. With that being said... this song is catchy as hell and so damned fun to listen to. Its hard to stay in a bad mood when ya hear this little gem. Kudos, Mr. Krug.
yea i think its about touring and performing and having the burden to put your faceon , or act, perform in front of people- and maybe some days you arent that into and you wish someone else would kind of take over- or maybe that you just let things be without worrying about them too much- to just be yourself-
@Joel Yeah! I had the same impression. In fact, I was going to say something about it, too ;)<br /> <br /> I think this song has something to do with the band life, doing gigs and touring together, and having crazy experiences together.
You go on ahead for a while. I would like to follow you a while.... I would like to just follow you a while. I'd like to watch the white flash of your heels as they take turns breaking the desert heat, to beckon me in languages I've never learned. I'd like to have you navigate to hills where no musicians live, and on the way decide what 'bendings' of your will you're willing to forgive. And I'd like to think the actors never banded. I'd like to throw this trumpet down and go on empty handed. I'd like to think I am not one of them, but I know I am, so I'd like to just follow you a while.
When me and the boys were out we killed a thousand butterflies, so I put their wings into my mouth and said a prayer for our safe arrival. Then a big black car crossed our path, and I wondered whether or not that shit was empty.
See the sirens and the lizards flick their tongues behind the stage. See the actor keep a ritual to keep them all at bay. He would like to come home naked without war paint on his face, and appear before you virgin white if virgins are still chaste. So wait, you've got to wait... you've got to wait for me. I'll appear before you virgin white if virgins are still chaste, then I'd like to just follow you a while.
And if there are two eyes in my head, there are four seasons in a year, and reflections on the water of a burning yellow sphere. And the days add up to weeks, add up to months, and add up, and add up... to years. And if reflections on the water sometimes look like burning tears, we can watch them changing shape without pushing off the pier
copied from their site.
it's ' and appear before you, virgin white, if virgins are still chaste'
I bolded the words I think need changing. By the way, I'm listening to the actual album version for reference.
and I'd like to watch the white FLASH of your heels as they take turns breaking the desert heat to beckon me in languages I've never learned and I'd like to have you navigate two hills where no musicians live and on the way decide what BENDINGS of your will you're willing to forgive
when me and the boys were out we killed a thousand butterflies so I put their wings into my mouth and said a prayer for our safe arrival and then a big black car crossed our path and I wondered whether or not that SHOOTER(?) was empty you go
see the sirens and the lizards lick their tongues BEHIND THE STAGE see the actor keep THEIR ritual to keep them all at bay he would like to come home naked without war paint on his face and APPEAR before you, virgin white if virgin's are still chaste
and if there are two eyes in my head there are four season in a year and reflections on the water of a burning yellow sphere and the days add up to weeks add up to months and add up TO YEARS
and then you forgot a final verse: and if reflections on the water sometimes look like burning tears we can watch them change in shape without pushing off the pier
I changed it according to the suggestions and what I heard on the album version. The original lyrics and song title I got from watching those live videos in the first post so sorry for any misfires.
this song is so amazing i love it here are two ways you can listen to it acoustic version: youtube.com/watch electric version: youtube.com/watch
i prefer the elctric version
I changed it to chaste, that didn't even come to mind while I was putting them down.
I'm pretty sure it's "what /bendings/ of your will..." Makes more sense.
Actual title is "You Go on Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II)"