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.
You're mama's singin' with the angels
(Let her go, let her go)
Ya got no need to feel so guilty
(Let her go, let her go)
Yes, everyone comes and goes
White in the head before you know
Set things right before you go
Let the people you love know
You wake up feeling she's still with you
(Let her go, let her go)
But all you see's an empty room
(Let her go, let her go)
Yes, everyone comes and goes
White in the head before you know
Set things right before you go
Let the people you love know
You pressed your face against her headstone
Offered up a prayer for others like her
The trees were bare when mama left us
Now they fruit and bloom
On Sunday morning when the church bells ring
And the laundry's flappin' in the southern breeze
The choir's howlin' and your mama sings...
Don't take it so hard
Don't take it so bad
Think of the good times
That we had
And now you follow in her footsteps
Walk the same steps that she walked in
Begged of gods both low and mighty
That she might return
You offer up the words
But they just burn your tongue
Yes, everyone comes and goes
White in the head before you know
Set things right before you go
Let the people you love know
Yes, everyone comes and goes
White in the head before you know
Make amends before it gets worse
If the heartache don't get you first
If the heartache don't get you first
If the heartache don't get you first
If the heartache don't get you first
If the heartache don't get you first
(Let her go, let her go)
Ya got no need to feel so guilty
(Let her go, let her go)
Yes, everyone comes and goes
White in the head before you know
Set things right before you go
Let the people you love know
You wake up feeling she's still with you
(Let her go, let her go)
But all you see's an empty room
(Let her go, let her go)
Yes, everyone comes and goes
White in the head before you know
Set things right before you go
Let the people you love know
You pressed your face against her headstone
Offered up a prayer for others like her
The trees were bare when mama left us
Now they fruit and bloom
On Sunday morning when the church bells ring
And the laundry's flappin' in the southern breeze
The choir's howlin' and your mama sings...
Don't take it so hard
Don't take it so bad
Think of the good times
That we had
And now you follow in her footsteps
Walk the same steps that she walked in
Begged of gods both low and mighty
That she might return
You offer up the words
But they just burn your tongue
Yes, everyone comes and goes
White in the head before you know
Set things right before you go
Let the people you love know
Yes, everyone comes and goes
White in the head before you know
Make amends before it gets worse
If the heartache don't get you first
If the heartache don't get you first
If the heartache don't get you first
If the heartache don't get you first
If the heartache don't get you first
Lyrics submitted by a_melancholy_soul, edited by Mellow_Harsher, PandasaurusRex, DiesisKey
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You're mama's singin' with the angels (Let her go, let her go) Ya got no need to feel so guilty (Let her go, let her go)
Yes, everyone comes and goes White in the head before you know Set things right before you go Let the people you love know
You wake up feeling she's still with you (Let her go, let her go) But all you see's an empty room (Let her go, let her go)
Yes, everyone comes and goes White in the head before you know Set things right before you go Let the people you love know
You pressed your face against her headstone Offered up a prayer for others like her The trees were bare when mama left us Now they fruit and bloom On Sunday morning when the church bells ring And the laundry's flappin' in the southern breeze The choir's howlin' and your mama sings...
Don't take it so hard Don't take it so bad Think of the good times That we had
And now you follow in her footsteps Walk the same steps that she walked in Begged of gods both low and mighty That she might return You offer up the words But they just burn your tongue
Yes, everyone comes and goes White in the head before you know Set things right before you go Let the people you love know
Yes, everyone comes and goes White in the head before you know Make amends before it gets worse If the heartache don't get you first If the heartache don't get you first If the heartache don't get you first If the heartache don't get you first If the heartache don't get you first