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'm a happy man
I made my choice in life
I chose to settle down
I chose to take a wife
And I take pleasure in my quiet
Hearth and happy home
I never gave my heart
Its chance to roam
I could have been a sailor
And sailed the seven seas
The wind in my face all day
Can you taste the salty breeze?
I could have been a lover
Watchin' waves before me part
But I settled for safer harbors of my heart
I'm a lucky man
I'm the envy of my peers
I never ask for favors
Oh, and I never show my fears
Surrounded by too many friends
I am a one-man band
With all the trappings of a life
Lived second-hand
I could have been a sailor
Rollin' through the night
My sails before the wind
Where the star's my only light
I could have been a dreamer
Yeah, but dreams just fall apart
So, I settled for safer harbors of my heart
And I take pleasure in my quiet
Hearth and happy home
I never gave my heart
Its chance to roam
I could have been a sailor
And sailed the seven seas
Is the wind in your face all day
And can you taste the salty breeze?
I could have been a dreamer
And watch the waves before me part
But I settled for safer harbors
Oh, sailor, sailed the seven seas
Is the wind in your face all day?
I can taste the salty breeze
Oh lover, I can see the waves before you part
Well, I settled for safer harbors of my heart, of my heart
I made my choice in life
I chose to settle down
I chose to take a wife
And I take pleasure in my quiet
Hearth and happy home
I never gave my heart
Its chance to roam
I could have been a sailor
And sailed the seven seas
The wind in my face all day
Can you taste the salty breeze?
I could have been a lover
Watchin' waves before me part
But I settled for safer harbors of my heart
I'm a lucky man
I'm the envy of my peers
I never ask for favors
Oh, and I never show my fears
Surrounded by too many friends
I am a one-man band
With all the trappings of a life
Lived second-hand
I could have been a sailor
Rollin' through the night
My sails before the wind
Where the star's my only light
I could have been a dreamer
Yeah, but dreams just fall apart
So, I settled for safer harbors of my heart
And I take pleasure in my quiet
Hearth and happy home
I never gave my heart
Its chance to roam
I could have been a sailor
And sailed the seven seas
Is the wind in your face all day
And can you taste the salty breeze?
I could have been a dreamer
And watch the waves before me part
But I settled for safer harbors
Oh, sailor, sailed the seven seas
Is the wind in your face all day?
I can taste the salty breeze
Oh lover, I can see the waves before you part
Well, I settled for safer harbors of my heart, of my heart
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
I Could Have Been a Sailor Lyrics as written by Peter W. Allen
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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