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.
Daddy used to tell me
If I ran too fast I'd fall and hurt myself
But the ice cream man would ring his bell
And I'd get there before anyone else
I'd see a puppy in the window
And I'd run and press my face against the pane
And Daddy'd say slow down girl
After all these years I guess nothing has changed
[Chorus]
That little girl I knew
Ran after you
But she fell this time
And broke her heart in two
Hey that's just like a little girl I knew
Back home there stands an old house
With a picket fence beneath a big oak tree
I can almost see the backyard
And a little girl with freckles
That was me
And there were dreams of toys and storybooks and
Lord it seemed I wanted them so bad
Now 20 years have come and gone
And I'm still chasing things that I can't have
[Chorus]
Yes, I'm still that little girl
Daddy I still haven't slowed down yet
If I ran too fast I'd fall and hurt myself
But the ice cream man would ring his bell
And I'd get there before anyone else
I'd see a puppy in the window
And I'd run and press my face against the pane
And Daddy'd say slow down girl
After all these years I guess nothing has changed
[Chorus]
That little girl I knew
Ran after you
But she fell this time
And broke her heart in two
Hey that's just like a little girl I knew
Back home there stands an old house
With a picket fence beneath a big oak tree
I can almost see the backyard
And a little girl with freckles
That was me
And there were dreams of toys and storybooks and
Lord it seemed I wanted them so bad
Now 20 years have come and gone
And I'm still chasing things that I can't have
[Chorus]
Yes, I'm still that little girl
Daddy I still haven't slowed down yet
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Little Girl Lyrics as written by Quentin Powers Kendal Franceschi
Lyrics © MUSIC & MEDIA INT'L, INC., THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
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