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.
oh we kissed only once,
in your stripped out apartment,
You sold your furniture,
so we kissed on the carpet.
it’s like a whaling ship
oh, is being on tour you know,
next day you gotta set sail
in your 350 Ford
you were my fiji,
o believe me
those hours with you they
only expand
o you, you were my fiji
o believe me
but I fell in love with
somebody else’s sand
somebody else’s dry land
you’re a stripper now,
in new orleans
fucking whale sank my van and
took my shipmates into the sea.
in your stripped out apartment,
You sold your furniture,
so we kissed on the carpet.
it’s like a whaling ship
oh, is being on tour you know,
next day you gotta set sail
in your 350 Ford
you were my fiji,
o believe me
those hours with you they
only expand
o you, you were my fiji
o believe me
but I fell in love with
somebody else’s sand
somebody else’s dry land
you’re a stripper now,
in new orleans
fucking whale sank my van and
took my shipmates into the sea.
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im guessing that he had a fling with a girl, but like a whaling ship, she had rough waters, she was unstable, always moving. They parted ways and he fell in love with someone else's sand and dry land, which is somone more stable. Then he ran into his once fling, and shes a stripper and a whore, but i dont get the "fucking whale sank my van" part.
Being on tour is likened to being on a whaling ship, and one tours in a van. I love how his voice sounds in this song, especially the second stanza. and the expanding hours line just kills me.
A lay-over in the pacific somewhere was fairly normal during the days of tall ships (for example, whaling ships). Often, sailors, even if married at home, would take native women while they were there. It was a temporary thing, and there was no chance of anyone at home finding out.
I think this song compares the old sailing life with what its like to be out on tour. Many stopovers on "islands" a long way from home, with no chance of anyone finding out.