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 dressed up at the bar
They expected us to fall from the heavens
It's only seven, they were monkeys all of them
Entertainment summer stain
Wondering whether, it's now or never
Strapped into the monkey scene
Like a Martian chimpanzee
Love you more than ever
When you broke my laws
You're holding on but letting go
I'm missing Cleveland and the snow
And lonely thoughts where everybody
Knows the truth and lets it be
We'll have a dream and you don't care
At least it seems so when you're there
What really hurts these sometimes lonely
When your feet are on the ground
There was you and there was me like the perfect family
Thought we'd always live forever
One and one and one makes three
And in change a glass of pain
Glad we got it truly toxic
Strapped into the monkey scene
Like a Martian chimpanzee
Love you more than ever
When you broke my laws
You're holding on but letting go
I'm missing Cleveland and the snow
The lonely thoughts where everybody
Knows the truth and lets it be
We'll have a dream and you don't care
At least it seems so when you're there
What really hurts these sometimes lonely
When your feet are on the ground
Once again I am alone, now I'm older
Never meant to let you go, no
You're holding on but letting go
I'm missing Cleveland and the snow
The lonely thoughts where everybody
Knows the truth and lets it be
We'll have a dream and you don't care
At least it seems so when you're there
What really hurts is sometimes lonely
When your feet are on the ground
They expected us to fall from the heavens
It's only seven, they were monkeys all of them
Entertainment summer stain
Wondering whether, it's now or never
Strapped into the monkey scene
Like a Martian chimpanzee
Love you more than ever
When you broke my laws
You're holding on but letting go
I'm missing Cleveland and the snow
And lonely thoughts where everybody
Knows the truth and lets it be
We'll have a dream and you don't care
At least it seems so when you're there
What really hurts these sometimes lonely
When your feet are on the ground
There was you and there was me like the perfect family
Thought we'd always live forever
One and one and one makes three
And in change a glass of pain
Glad we got it truly toxic
Strapped into the monkey scene
Like a Martian chimpanzee
Love you more than ever
When you broke my laws
You're holding on but letting go
I'm missing Cleveland and the snow
The lonely thoughts where everybody
Knows the truth and lets it be
We'll have a dream and you don't care
At least it seems so when you're there
What really hurts these sometimes lonely
When your feet are on the ground
Once again I am alone, now I'm older
Never meant to let you go, no
You're holding on but letting go
I'm missing Cleveland and the snow
The lonely thoughts where everybody
Knows the truth and lets it be
We'll have a dream and you don't care
At least it seems so when you're there
What really hurts is sometimes lonely
When your feet are on the ground
Lyrics submitted by SLATE, edited by TshirtLadez
Missing Cleveland Lyrics as written by Scott Richard Weiland Douglas Allan Grean
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
I actually, surprisingly, really like this song.
I guess it's about a girl, some relationship the singer had, evidently in Cleveland. Or maybe they met in Cleveland, and it's somehow special to them. And then I guess they broke up. Maybe they were too young, or too volatile to really make the relationship work. The line about "one and one and one make three" might also have something to do with a kid, perhaps the singer wasn't ready for the responsibility of fatherhood.
So looking back, being older, he feels guilty about having left the girl and/or their child.
What space monkeys have to do with all this, I'm still not sure of. Maybe something to do with the early space program, sending doomed animals into space... talking about leaving somewhere you'll never be able to return to.
That's my personal opinion of it, anyhow. I'm probably putting a slight spin on it due to my own personal experiences. Also, I grew up just south of Cleveland (Ohio, anyway) so this song has special significance to me on that count.
I believe its more about going from a relationship to marriage. <br /> <br /> 'You were dressed up at the ball<br /> They expected us to fall<br /> From the heavens<br /> It's lunar seven<br /> They were monkeys all of them<br /> Entertaining so we stayed<br /> Wonder'n whether<br /> It's all or never'<br /> A wedding where everyone fawns over the beauty of it and build their own expectations of what the couple will be like.<br /> <br /> 'Strap into the monkey seat<br /> Like a Martian chimpanzee'<br /> He talks about having dreams, but being a provider means you can't always chase after your dreams, you have to put your family first. Being the monkey means knowing your role and accepting that.<br /> <br /> 'Love you more than ever<br /> When you broke my nose'<br /> Relationships sometimes taking a turn where you're just going through the motions but you're emotionally falling away from each other. Something as crazy as a physical altercation reveals that she still gives a shit about them.<br /> <br /> 'So one and one and one make three<br /> And it changed the recipe<br /> But I forgot it truly toxic'<br /> Having a child changes your life forever, and you're so wrapped up in it that you forget how bad your relationship is (at least for a little while)<br /> <br /> 'I'm missing Cleveland and the snow<br /> And lonely bars where everybody knows<br /> The truth and lets it be'<br /> He's missing a time when life was simpler. <br /> <br />
Desap~ I am from Cleveland as well, it doesn't have a big personal meaning when you hear this song! but I i think he is talking about his marriage.. either way it is about a love!