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.
Down among the dead the wide-eyed
And the legless only half ahead
Half a mouth to laugh in the porthole
With the mold and faded epitaphs
Will you evermore tie up my hair with velvet bows
Will you evermore pull out the splinters from my toes
I don't think so
Out in the hornet rain the swarming stingers
Pumping poison through my veins
Lying on the star-cross lovers map
Take the beating, lash, lash for lash
Will we evermore kiss on the boardwalk's fading rail
In the light of the waves and the comet's waning tail
I don't think so
No more looking back, looking back
Looking back, faded epitaph
No more looking back, looking back
Looking back, faded epitaph
No more looking back, looking back
Looking back, faded epitaph
No more looking back, looking back
Looking back, faded epitaph
And the legless only half ahead
Half a mouth to laugh in the porthole
With the mold and faded epitaphs
Will you evermore tie up my hair with velvet bows
Will you evermore pull out the splinters from my toes
I don't think so
Out in the hornet rain the swarming stingers
Pumping poison through my veins
Lying on the star-cross lovers map
Take the beating, lash, lash for lash
Will we evermore kiss on the boardwalk's fading rail
In the light of the waves and the comet's waning tail
I don't think so
No more looking back, looking back
Looking back, faded epitaph
No more looking back, looking back
Looking back, faded epitaph
No more looking back, looking back
Looking back, faded epitaph
No more looking back, looking back
Looking back, faded epitaph
Lyrics submitted by missme, edited by actoroutofwork
Wide-Eyed, Legless Lyrics as written by Laura Veirs
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Here are the correct lyrics. From the insert :) * where corrections are
Down among the dead The wide-eyed and the legless, only half a head Half a mouth to laugh in the porthole With the mold and faded epitaphs
Will you ever more tie up my hair with velvet bows? Will you ever more pull out the splinters from my toes? I don't think so
Out in the hornet rain the swarming stingers Pumping poison through my veins Lying on the star-crossed lover's map Take the beating lash, lash for lash
Will we ever more kiss on the boardwalks fading rail? In the light of the waves and the comet's waning tail I don't think so
No more looking back, looking back, looking back Faded epitaph No more looking back, looking back, looking back Faded epitaph No more looking back, looking back, looking back Faded epitaph No more looking back, looking back, looking back Faded epitaph