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.
He's got the Eye of Fatima on the wall of his room
Two bottles of tequila, three cats and a broom
He's got an 18-year-old angel and she's all dressed in black
He's got 15 nickles of cocaine tied up in a sack
And this here's a government experiment and we're driving like Hell
To give some cowboys some Acid and to stay in motels
We're going to eat up some wide open spaces
Like it was a cruise on the Nile
Take the hands off the clock, we're going to be here a while
And I am the Eye of Fatima on the wall of the motel room
And cowboys on acid are like Egyptian cartoons
And no one ever conquered Wyoming from the left or from the right
But you can stay in motel rooms and stay up all night
Two bottles of tequila, three cats and a broom
He's got an 18-year-old angel and she's all dressed in black
He's got 15 nickles of cocaine tied up in a sack
And this here's a government experiment and we're driving like Hell
To give some cowboys some Acid and to stay in motels
We're going to eat up some wide open spaces
Like it was a cruise on the Nile
Take the hands off the clock, we're going to be here a while
And I am the Eye of Fatima on the wall of the motel room
And cowboys on acid are like Egyptian cartoons
And no one ever conquered Wyoming from the left or from the right
But you can stay in motel rooms and stay up all night
Lyrics submitted by yowza_bean, edited by epiwoosh
Eye of Fatima Lyrics as written by David Lowery Chris Pederson
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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First, it's definitely "bindles".
Second, from David Lowery's own blog (davidlowerymusic.com/300songsblog.cfm):
...shortly after this Anthony’s girlfriend ran off with Pete to Wyoming. It was never exactly clear if they were romantically involved but they definitely went on a huge drug and psychedelics binge. When I saw her sometime later she mentioned tripping her ass off on LSD with a bunch of cowboys in some tiny town in Wyoming. And she said verbatim to me:
“Man watching cowboys on acid was crazy. They looked like some kind of Egyptian hieroglyphics to me. Animated like cartoons”
And thus the song Eye of Fatima was born.
This song has an irresistible musical drive fueled by the interplay of the bass, violin and (I think) slide-guitar riffs. The lyrical imagery is amusing if nonsensical but fits the musical vibe. Common, “and cowboys on acid”, what a great juxtaposition of ideas.
Actually, after review the lyrics and one more listen, I think this song is about a guy and his girl on a crazy drug/alcohol fueled road trip. I offer that explanation up for what its worth but this is still one cool song to digest!
no sense at all, but o' well.
I think it's actually "15 bindles (not pimples) of cocaine . . ." If not bindles it may be kilos. I really doubt it's pimples.
Yeah, "bindles" according to CVB site.
15 nickels of cocaine. You know, kind of like a dime bag, but only half as much.
First, it's definitely "bindles".
Second, from David Lowery's own blog (davidlowerymusic.com/300songsblog.cfm):
...shortly after this Anthony’s girlfriend ran off with Pete to Wyoming. It was never exactly clear if they were romantically involved but they definitely went on a huge drug and psychedelics binge. When I saw her sometime later she mentioned tripping her ass off on LSD with a bunch of cowboys in some tiny town in Wyoming. And she said verbatim to me:
“Man watching cowboys on acid was crazy. They looked like some kind of Egyptian hieroglyphics to me. Animated like cartoons”
And thus the song Eye of Fatima was born.