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.
There is only clear soup
In the pot
I left it on the stove for you
Piping hot
But the table spoons are stained
And full of holes
I haven't changed the sheets since
Five weeks back
When you left us
I rip them into rags
Wind them round my chest
Like a bandage
Oh I build a porcelain castle
Of the cups you used to drink from
Oh I build a porcelain castle
On my dirty kitchen sink
I give a stranger on the street
All your clothes
And all unsent letters
That I wrote to you
You are sailing a white ship
While row row row row a boat
Everybody seems to know
That a father should protect his kids
It has turned the opposite way
They adore you still
While you left us here in badlands
Oh I build a porcelain castle
Of the cups you used to drink from
Oh I build a porcelain castle
On my dirty kitchen sink
There is only clear soup
In the pot
I left it on the stove for you
Piping hot
But the table spoons are stained
And full of holes
Oh I build a porcelain castle
Of the cups you used to drink from
Oh I build a porcelain castle
On my dirty kitchen sink
'''
Once I sang so many lullabies
For my kids
And made up bedtime stories
About you
I made you a hero
Oh I made you a king
Yes
We made you a hero
We made you a king
We made you into something big
In the pot
I left it on the stove for you
Piping hot
But the table spoons are stained
And full of holes
I haven't changed the sheets since
Five weeks back
When you left us
I rip them into rags
Wind them round my chest
Like a bandage
Oh I build a porcelain castle
Of the cups you used to drink from
Oh I build a porcelain castle
On my dirty kitchen sink
I give a stranger on the street
All your clothes
And all unsent letters
That I wrote to you
You are sailing a white ship
While row row row row a boat
Everybody seems to know
That a father should protect his kids
It has turned the opposite way
They adore you still
While you left us here in badlands
Oh I build a porcelain castle
Of the cups you used to drink from
Oh I build a porcelain castle
On my dirty kitchen sink
There is only clear soup
In the pot
I left it on the stove for you
Piping hot
But the table spoons are stained
And full of holes
Oh I build a porcelain castle
Of the cups you used to drink from
Oh I build a porcelain castle
On my dirty kitchen sink
'''
Once I sang so many lullabies
For my kids
And made up bedtime stories
About you
I made you a hero
Oh I made you a king
Yes
We made you a hero
We made you a king
We made you into something big
Lyrics submitted by ImAvampire
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