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 met a girl in L.A. and she seemed alright to me,
She said she'd give me loving and she said it would be free,
She told me she would call me or leave a message at the door,
And left me wondering what I was in for.
By the next time that I saw her I had clean forgot her name
And without her fancy make-up she just didn't look the same,
So I totally ignored her and she sadly turned away,
And through sympathy I told her she could stay.
Oh poor lady, midnight baby,
No one wants your love at all,
Oh poor lady, midnight baby,
Now you're heading for a fall,
And you really think your're something,
you know all the things to do
But poor lady, just a baby,
There's a hundred more like you.
Now for two weeks more she was at my door,
She would stay with me for days,
As a lover she was frightening in so many different ways,
But when it came to conversation she was totally absurd,
Oh she'd sit for hours and never say a word.
Oh poor lady, midnight baby,
No one wants your love at all,
Oh poor lady, midnight baby,
Now you're heading for a fall,
And you really think your're something,
you know all the things to do
But poor lady, just a baby,
There's a hundred more like you.
She spends her days in different ways, still trying to be hip,
And at night she'll find she'll lose her mind, at a club along the strip,
When her money goes she always knows she got something she can sell,
It's the one thing that she really can do well.
Oh poor lady, midnight baby,
No one wants your love at all,
Oh poor lady, midnight baby,
Now you're heading for a fall,
And you really think your're something,
you know all the things to do
But poor lady, just a baby,
There's a hundred more like you.
She said she'd give me loving and she said it would be free,
She told me she would call me or leave a message at the door,
And left me wondering what I was in for.
By the next time that I saw her I had clean forgot her name
And without her fancy make-up she just didn't look the same,
So I totally ignored her and she sadly turned away,
And through sympathy I told her she could stay.
Oh poor lady, midnight baby,
No one wants your love at all,
Oh poor lady, midnight baby,
Now you're heading for a fall,
And you really think your're something,
you know all the things to do
But poor lady, just a baby,
There's a hundred more like you.
Now for two weeks more she was at my door,
She would stay with me for days,
As a lover she was frightening in so many different ways,
But when it came to conversation she was totally absurd,
Oh she'd sit for hours and never say a word.
Oh poor lady, midnight baby,
No one wants your love at all,
Oh poor lady, midnight baby,
Now you're heading for a fall,
And you really think your're something,
you know all the things to do
But poor lady, just a baby,
There's a hundred more like you.
She spends her days in different ways, still trying to be hip,
And at night she'll find she'll lose her mind, at a club along the strip,
When her money goes she always knows she got something she can sell,
It's the one thing that she really can do well.
Oh poor lady, midnight baby,
No one wants your love at all,
Oh poor lady, midnight baby,
Now you're heading for a fall,
And you really think your're something,
you know all the things to do
But poor lady, just a baby,
There's a hundred more like you.
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Poor Lady (Midnight Baby) Lyrics as written by Pete David Spencer Christopher Ward Norman
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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.
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”
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.