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.
I was a young man, starving and drinking
And trying, to become a writer
And I remember that apartment
The smell of mice and dust
And the old woman with the pretty legs
All the kisses that I lost to your neck,
I am a tennis player, playing on both sides of the net
And I, will get you yet,
And I will turn you, I will turn you
Like a tattooed pigskin
And this time you won’t forget my face
Read my lips
A sculpture is a sculpture
Marmalade is marmalade
And a sculpture of marmalade is a sculpture
But it isn’t marmalade
She said with you inside me,
Comes the knowledge of my death
But I still had some oranges left
Underneath the bed
I came to you, I came to depend on you
I came upon you, I came upon your floor
But the god should be left alone
One mustn’t bang upon the door
She said for everything that is visible
There is a copy that is hidden
She said, nothing takes on life
Until it has been eaten
I was working the hole with the sailor
And you wonder you don’t get invited to more parties
Read my lips
A sculpture is a sculpture
Marmalade is marmalade
And a sculpture of marmalade is a sculpture
But it isn’t marmalade
She said with you inside me,
Comes the knowledge of my death
But I still had some oranges left
Underneath the bed
And trying, to become a writer
And I remember that apartment
The smell of mice and dust
And the old woman with the pretty legs
All the kisses that I lost to your neck,
I am a tennis player, playing on both sides of the net
And I, will get you yet,
And I will turn you, I will turn you
Like a tattooed pigskin
And this time you won’t forget my face
Read my lips
A sculpture is a sculpture
Marmalade is marmalade
And a sculpture of marmalade is a sculpture
But it isn’t marmalade
She said with you inside me,
Comes the knowledge of my death
But I still had some oranges left
Underneath the bed
I came to you, I came to depend on you
I came upon you, I came upon your floor
But the god should be left alone
One mustn’t bang upon the door
She said for everything that is visible
There is a copy that is hidden
She said, nothing takes on life
Until it has been eaten
I was working the hole with the sailor
And you wonder you don’t get invited to more parties
Read my lips
A sculpture is a sculpture
Marmalade is marmalade
And a sculpture of marmalade is a sculpture
But it isn’t marmalade
She said with you inside me,
Comes the knowledge of my death
But I still had some oranges left
Underneath the bed
Lyrics submitted by dricambo
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It's "Strange Fruit FOR David"
There's so much to decode in this song... I'm specially intrigued about the "oranges left underneath his bed"
Oranges are mentioned a few times in their songs... Mr Tattersall, what's up with you and oranges!? :)