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 tall weeds lay flat down
On the hard flat Kansas ground
And a sad song in her head
Kept goin' round
She barely even knew his name
But she liked the way he played the game
Everybody cheered
When he scored that last touchdown
Indian Summer
The wonder
The hunger
And the sound of distant thunder
Indian Summer
Tangled in a moment of truth
A bottle of wine in a motel room
Blue haze circled 'round
The cold gray moon
While the wind chased the leaves outside
Passion found a place to hide
Late September heat
Couldn't be denied
Oh Indian Summer
The wonder
The hunger
And the sound of distant thunder
Indian Summer
She never even finished school
People like to talk, they can be so cruel
Her California was a place
To start brand new
So she left that dust bowl town
Sometimes we'll all know how
I wonder where we'd be
If I never scored that last touchdown
Summer
The wonder
The hunger,
And the sound of distant thunder
Indian Summer
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh woah!
On the hard flat Kansas ground
And a sad song in her head
Kept goin' round
She barely even knew his name
But she liked the way he played the game
Everybody cheered
When he scored that last touchdown
Indian Summer
The wonder
The hunger
And the sound of distant thunder
Indian Summer
Tangled in a moment of truth
A bottle of wine in a motel room
Blue haze circled 'round
The cold gray moon
While the wind chased the leaves outside
Passion found a place to hide
Late September heat
Couldn't be denied
Oh Indian Summer
The wonder
The hunger
And the sound of distant thunder
Indian Summer
She never even finished school
People like to talk, they can be so cruel
Her California was a place
To start brand new
So she left that dust bowl town
Sometimes we'll all know how
I wonder where we'd be
If I never scored that last touchdown
Summer
The wonder
The hunger,
And the sound of distant thunder
Indian Summer
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh woah!
Lyrics submitted by Shattered Dreams
Indian Summer Lyrics as written by Kix Brooks Bob Dipiero
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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Great version of a great song,
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I think it means that he knocked her up and she was from a different school so they really didnt know eachother but they still fell in love and when she found out she was prego she decided to flee to cali and he wanted to go but when he scored that last touchdown she realized he had a better chance of a future without her and her kid so she left without him... well at least thats what i think comment back and lemme know what yall think