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.
The dance is on the bridge of death
And who will dance with me?
There’s never a man of living men
Will dare to dance with thee
Now I am gone within my bower
Put ashes in my hair
And sackcloth on her bonny breast
And on her shoulders bare.
They danced across the bridge, above the black water
The marriage bell was tolled in hell for the souls of him and her
They danced across the bridge, above the black water
The marriage bell was tolled in hell for the souls of him and her
There came a knock to my bower door
And blithe I let him in
It was my brother from the wars
The dearest of my kin
Set gold within your hair
Set gold within your hair
And gold upon your girdle band
And on your breast so fair
Lover of life, Lover of life
Lover of life on the bridge of death
Lover of life, Lover of life
Lover of life on the bridge of death
Nay, no gold for my head brother
Nay, no gold for my hair
It’s ashes and it’s dust of Earth
That you and I must wear
We are bidden to dance tonight
We may not bide away
Hah! This one good night, this one fair night
Before the red new day
They danced across the bridge, above the black water
The marriage bell was tolled in hell for the souls of him and her
They danced across the bridge, above the black water
The marriage bell was tolled in hell for the souls of him and her
No gold work for my girdle band
No gold work on my feet
But ashes of the fire, my love
But dust that the serpents eat
We are bidden to dance tonight
We may not bide away
This one good night, one fair night
Before the red new day
Lover of life, Lover of life
Lover of life on the bridge of death
Lover of life, Lover of life
Lover of life on the bridge of death
Lover of life, Lover of life
Lover of life on the bridge of death
Lover of life, Lover of life
Lover of life on the bridge of death
And who will dance with me?
There’s never a man of living men
Will dare to dance with thee
Now I am gone within my bower
Put ashes in my hair
And sackcloth on her bonny breast
And on her shoulders bare.
They danced across the bridge, above the black water
The marriage bell was tolled in hell for the souls of him and her
They danced across the bridge, above the black water
The marriage bell was tolled in hell for the souls of him and her
There came a knock to my bower door
And blithe I let him in
It was my brother from the wars
The dearest of my kin
Set gold within your hair
Set gold within your hair
And gold upon your girdle band
And on your breast so fair
Lover of life, Lover of life
Lover of life on the bridge of death
Lover of life, Lover of life
Lover of life on the bridge of death
Nay, no gold for my head brother
Nay, no gold for my hair
It’s ashes and it’s dust of Earth
That you and I must wear
We are bidden to dance tonight
We may not bide away
Hah! This one good night, this one fair night
Before the red new day
They danced across the bridge, above the black water
The marriage bell was tolled in hell for the souls of him and her
They danced across the bridge, above the black water
The marriage bell was tolled in hell for the souls of him and her
No gold work for my girdle band
No gold work on my feet
But ashes of the fire, my love
But dust that the serpents eat
We are bidden to dance tonight
We may not bide away
This one good night, one fair night
Before the red new day
Lover of life, Lover of life
Lover of life on the bridge of death
Lover of life, Lover of life
Lover of life on the bridge of death
Lover of life, Lover of life
Lover of life on the bridge of death
Lover of life, Lover of life
Lover of life on the bridge of death
Lyrics submitted by Howodd27
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