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 say that you're leaving
That your hands are only dust
And the boy loves you
Oh, he loves you so much
Will you trust me
Like you did when we were young?
When we were young
You say that you're wilting
But I don't see it at all
You're a thousand things
You can fly with one wing
Who will brace me
From my painful, sudden fall
When we were young
I never had to worry
I never even cared
'Cause something always came my way
When we were young
I never was repeating
The sentiment again and again
Oh, something's gotta come my way
Oh, it won't be easy
As you reach your final end
When our days are spent
And I watch you transcend
Will you watch me
With our loved ones in the sky
When we were young
I never had to worry
When we were young
When we were young
When we were young
I never had to worry
I never even cared
'Cause something always came my way
When we were young
I never had to carry
Those fears I have today
You take me when I close my eyes
That your hands are only dust
And the boy loves you
Oh, he loves you so much
Will you trust me
Like you did when we were young?
When we were young
You say that you're wilting
But I don't see it at all
You're a thousand things
You can fly with one wing
Who will brace me
From my painful, sudden fall
When we were young
I never had to worry
I never even cared
'Cause something always came my way
When we were young
I never was repeating
The sentiment again and again
Oh, something's gotta come my way
Oh, it won't be easy
As you reach your final end
When our days are spent
And I watch you transcend
Will you watch me
With our loved ones in the sky
When we were young
I never had to worry
When we were young
When we were young
When we were young
I never had to worry
I never even cared
'Cause something always came my way
When we were young
I never had to carry
Those fears I have today
You take me when I close my eyes
Lyrics submitted by manprettys_panties
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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,
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I am really bad with song interpretations, but I just listened to the song again after several months and I had a pretty clear interpretation:
To me it is about an unavoidable death, perhaps of a love one. Personally, they went through several periods of illness with their mother that was spoken of a while ago, so maybe it's a reflection of that.
Talking in general: When we are young, we usually don't have worries about older parents/family members passing away, getting sick. When one starts to get older, that happens more and more.
The "You say that you're leaving....hands are only dust." and "You say that you're wilting, but I don't see it at all" lines --- I know my parents are now commenting on how "old" they are and are talking about wills, etc., but to me, they are still my parents who protect me and can do anything.
The boy loves you may refer to her father loving her mother. Lyrically, she seems to use "boy," "girl," "honey," etc despite age.
The last part is of course, talking about the passing of a love one...something we unfortunately all have to go through.
I don't know...I remember when I first heard the song, I thought it was somewhat about a relationship, but now it makes sense that it is about that period where her mother was really sick and can relate to that situation in general. With this new interpretation, it makes me appreciate the song even more.