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 cool is dead, baby
Go on and sleep
Rest your weary head and love a better me
And in the morning
We'll start over again
That's how they do it up on the screen
So me and my baby
We would dance all night
But I don't know the steps
In my baby's time
To do it like they do it
For the girls uptown
I hear they light them up like the blues
So I'm waiting, so I'm waiting
And she's waiting, and she's waiting
For us to remember
Was I good to you, the wife of my youth
No other soul could love you
Like my rotten bones do
So I will wait on the edges in between
These New York streets
Where you and I would meet
For twenty nine years
We loved that line
And I would take it easy
If I had your mind
But I'm a cannonball to a house on fire
And you're slow like Motown soul
So what man wouldn't love her
With that long black hair
If I cut you up
Maybe I came to bear
To bandage your wounds
With the salt on my tongue
And I'm the only one not here
So I'm waiting, so I'm waiting
And she's waiting, and she's waiting
For us to remember
So was I good to you, the wife of my youth
No other soul could love you
Like my rotten bones do
So I will wait on the edges in between
These New York streets
Where you and I would meet
And only I can heal your wounds
Only I can heal your wounds
When you can't go on
When you can't go on
When you can't go on
When you know, hold on
So was I good to you, the wife of my youth
No other soul could love you
Like my
So was I good to you, the wife of my youth
No other soul could love you
Like my rotten bones do
So I will wait on the edges in between
And I will wait on the edges in between
And I will wait on the edges in between
These New York streets
On all these New York streets
Where you and I would meet
Go on and sleep
Rest your weary head and love a better me
And in the morning
We'll start over again
That's how they do it up on the screen
So me and my baby
We would dance all night
But I don't know the steps
In my baby's time
To do it like they do it
For the girls uptown
I hear they light them up like the blues
So I'm waiting, so I'm waiting
And she's waiting, and she's waiting
For us to remember
Was I good to you, the wife of my youth
No other soul could love you
Like my rotten bones do
So I will wait on the edges in between
These New York streets
Where you and I would meet
For twenty nine years
We loved that line
And I would take it easy
If I had your mind
But I'm a cannonball to a house on fire
And you're slow like Motown soul
So what man wouldn't love her
With that long black hair
If I cut you up
Maybe I came to bear
To bandage your wounds
With the salt on my tongue
And I'm the only one not here
So I'm waiting, so I'm waiting
And she's waiting, and she's waiting
For us to remember
So was I good to you, the wife of my youth
No other soul could love you
Like my rotten bones do
So I will wait on the edges in between
These New York streets
Where you and I would meet
And only I can heal your wounds
Only I can heal your wounds
When you can't go on
When you can't go on
When you can't go on
When you know, hold on
So was I good to you, the wife of my youth
No other soul could love you
Like my
So was I good to you, the wife of my youth
No other soul could love you
Like my rotten bones do
So I will wait on the edges in between
And I will wait on the edges in between
And I will wait on the edges in between
These New York streets
On all these New York streets
Where you and I would meet
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
Agreed. Brian has said his "first wife" (ie Great Expectations, so I'd assume this song too) is someone who he had a relationship with when he was younger. The relationship was, to him (at that point in his life), very much like a marriage. He thought he'd be with her forever.