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.
Dance on ceilings
Like you do
Sparkled earrings
You cling to
Your skipping heart beats in the room
Every eye is on you
They're making movies about you now
Of how he played guitar for you
So paint the lines beneath your eyes
To hide the pain beneath the lies
You're chasing streetlights home tonight
You're chasing streetlights home
Telling tales like you do
So off the rails
Breaking rules
The fluttered lashes you see through
You catch his eye across the room
You took his breath away as you moved
You couldn't change if you wanted to
He called you his rolling stone
Should you roll away home now?
So paint the lines beneath your eyes
To hide the pain beneath your lies
You're chasing streetlights home tonight
You're chasing streetlights home
You'll never change
You'll never know
You'll never grow
The camera rolls so dance away another show
The tears have dried
Your world collides
Falling through in black and white
Your face still glows it's all for show
Your words grow old without you
But paint the lines beneath your eyes
To hide the pain beneath your lies
You're chasing streetlights home tonight
You're chasing streetlights home
You'll never change
You'll never know
You'll never grow
The camera rolls so dance away another show
Like you do
Sparkled earrings
You cling to
Your skipping heart beats in the room
Every eye is on you
They're making movies about you now
Of how he played guitar for you
So paint the lines beneath your eyes
To hide the pain beneath the lies
You're chasing streetlights home tonight
You're chasing streetlights home
Telling tales like you do
So off the rails
Breaking rules
The fluttered lashes you see through
You catch his eye across the room
You took his breath away as you moved
You couldn't change if you wanted to
He called you his rolling stone
Should you roll away home now?
So paint the lines beneath your eyes
To hide the pain beneath your lies
You're chasing streetlights home tonight
You're chasing streetlights home
You'll never change
You'll never know
You'll never grow
The camera rolls so dance away another show
The tears have dried
Your world collides
Falling through in black and white
Your face still glows it's all for show
Your words grow old without you
But paint the lines beneath your eyes
To hide the pain beneath your lies
You're chasing streetlights home tonight
You're chasing streetlights home
You'll never change
You'll never know
You'll never grow
The camera rolls so dance away another show
Lyrics submitted by justlisten_
Edie Lyrics as written by Peter-john Vettese Anna Leddra Chapman
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Yeah, i think it is about edie sedgwick. There were many much darker parts of her life (such as domestic violence, abuse of illegal drugs and alcohol and physical illness) that she kept hidden from the press. This is reflected by this song, in the chorus especially. Also, Bob Dylans song "Like a rolling stone" was also meant to be inspired by her, which would fit with the line 'He called you his rolling stone'.
I love this song, and I was very interested to learn about the background behind it.