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.
I was sitting with Mary
In my dad?s blue Valiant
Rain was coming down
And the radio was playing
Mary was talking
A million miles a minute
I could not hear one word she was saying
Cause I was lost
I was gone
Listening to Levon
In another world
In another place
I was was lost
I was gone
Listening to Levon
I was looking at Mary?s eyes
But I was listening to Levon
Mary?s hair was black
That much I remember
Mary?s was skin was smooth
I remember that too
And she opened her eyes
Sometimes when she kissed me
I don?t know why she did that
Maybe Mary knew
I was lost
I was gone
Listening to Levon
In another place
In some other world
I was was lost
I was gone
Listening to Levon
I was looking at the girl
But I was listening to Levon
I changed her name
To protect the innocent
I might have even lied
About the car
This is just to say
Sorry if I hurt you
Mary if you?re out there
You know who you are
I?m sorry Mary
It serves me right if
You can?t even hear me singing
If you tuned me out a long time ago
And it served me right
If you already changed the station
And you?re listening right now to that old boy on the radio
And you?re lost
And you?re gone
Listening to Levon
In another world
From some other place
Are you lost?
Are you gone?
Listening to Levon
Is there a smile your face
While you?re listening to Levon?
In my dad?s blue Valiant
Rain was coming down
And the radio was playing
Mary was talking
A million miles a minute
I could not hear one word she was saying
Cause I was lost
I was gone
Listening to Levon
In another world
In another place
I was was lost
I was gone
Listening to Levon
I was looking at Mary?s eyes
But I was listening to Levon
Mary?s hair was black
That much I remember
Mary?s was skin was smooth
I remember that too
And she opened her eyes
Sometimes when she kissed me
I don?t know why she did that
Maybe Mary knew
I was lost
I was gone
Listening to Levon
In another place
In some other world
I was was lost
I was gone
Listening to Levon
I was looking at the girl
But I was listening to Levon
I changed her name
To protect the innocent
I might have even lied
About the car
This is just to say
Sorry if I hurt you
Mary if you?re out there
You know who you are
I?m sorry Mary
It serves me right if
You can?t even hear me singing
If you tuned me out a long time ago
And it served me right
If you already changed the station
And you?re listening right now to that old boy on the radio
And you?re lost
And you?re gone
Listening to Levon
In another world
From some other place
Are you lost?
Are you gone?
Listening to Levon
Is there a smile your face
While you?re listening to Levon?
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Most likely Levon is Levon Helm. Love this song.
@donna12031 you are right!
Hi Donna. When I heard it I thought of "Levon" by Elton John, but you could be right. Great song!
I often listen to Levon - more people should
Its Levon Helm. Just saw Marc in concert (what a night!) and he told a nice story about it.