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.
Break us down by our elements and you might think he failed
We're not copper for one penny or even iron for one nail
And a dollar would be plenty to buy twenty of us
Until true love is added to these handfuls of dust
Handful of dust, handful of dust
Sums up the richest and poorest of us
True love makes priceless the worthless
Whenever it's added to a handful of dust
However small though our worth may be when shared between two hearts
Is even more than it would ever be, measured on its own apart
And our half what it could be is now twice what it was
When true love is added to these handfuls of dust
Handful of dust, handful of dust
Sums up the richest, poorest of us
True love makes priceless the worthless
Whenever it's added to a handful of dust
Handful of dust, handful of dust
Sums up the richest, poorest of us
True love makes priceless the worthless
Whenever it's added to a handful of dust
We're not copper for one penny or even iron for one nail
And a dollar would be plenty to buy twenty of us
Until true love is added to these handfuls of dust
Handful of dust, handful of dust
Sums up the richest and poorest of us
True love makes priceless the worthless
Whenever it's added to a handful of dust
However small though our worth may be when shared between two hearts
Is even more than it would ever be, measured on its own apart
And our half what it could be is now twice what it was
When true love is added to these handfuls of dust
Handful of dust, handful of dust
Sums up the richest, poorest of us
True love makes priceless the worthless
Whenever it's added to a handful of dust
Handful of dust, handful of dust
Sums up the richest, poorest of us
True love makes priceless the worthless
Whenever it's added to a handful of dust
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
A Handful of Dust Lyrics as written by Tony Arata
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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