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.
When she was two
Mama told her what to do
Sit and behave
Don't make a sound now
When she was eight
She had found a different fate
Moving her friends
Up and down now
When the clock had moved some more
She could open any door she pleased
She's a Koto girl
Playing eighteen string guitar
Been around
All the eastern world
She can't leave now, but her dreams still travel far
Now She is grown
Has a life all of her own
Plays all the time
Just to be seen now
I met her here
Drinking cold ASAHI beer
Or could have been
A grass of tsing tao
I walked up and asked her please
She replied hello in cantonese
She's a Koto Girl
Who knows what she wants to be
Been around
All the eastern world
But hopes someday for a life where she is free
Don't go away (I want to be with you)
I tried to say (Come on, let's see it through)
But she's got those
Stars in her eyes
Shanghai, goodbye
Signed a major record deal
Now she plays TV shows in high hells
She's a Koto girl
A dream come true superstar
Been around all the eastern world
But Koto girl wants to climb the billboard charts
She's a Koto girl
Playing eighteen strings guitar
What a sound
Heard around the world this Koto girl (Koto girl) has got her strings
Wrapped around my heart
Mama told her what to do
Sit and behave
Don't make a sound now
When she was eight
She had found a different fate
Moving her friends
Up and down now
When the clock had moved some more
She could open any door she pleased
She's a Koto girl
Playing eighteen string guitar
Been around
All the eastern world
She can't leave now, but her dreams still travel far
Now She is grown
Has a life all of her own
Plays all the time
Just to be seen now
I met her here
Drinking cold ASAHI beer
Or could have been
A grass of tsing tao
I walked up and asked her please
She replied hello in cantonese
She's a Koto Girl
Who knows what she wants to be
Been around
All the eastern world
But hopes someday for a life where she is free
Don't go away (I want to be with you)
I tried to say (Come on, let's see it through)
But she's got those
Stars in her eyes
Shanghai, goodbye
Signed a major record deal
Now she plays TV shows in high hells
She's a Koto girl
A dream come true superstar
Been around all the eastern world
But Koto girl wants to climb the billboard charts
She's a Koto girl
Playing eighteen strings guitar
What a sound
Heard around the world this Koto girl (Koto girl) has got her strings
Wrapped around my heart
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.