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.
OLE:
Candles on the table in a darkened room;
A long-forgotten voice that sings a half-familiar tune.
Memories I can’t quite hold, but can’t let go.
A bitter smile, and hair as white and cold as snow,
And river eyes...
DECEMBER:
Candles on the table in a darkened room;
Hands entwined like voices as we sing his favorite tune.
Well-loved hands that played me like a mandolin --
The River told me it would take me back to him --
The River lies.
BOTH:
So River turn back, turn away from this door.
River be kind, for I’ve been here before.
River it’s something I won’t recognize...
D:
For I have no faith left in cruel River lies...
O:
I have no faith left in cold river eyes.
D:
Darkness in the corners where the firelight fades;
I never meant to leave him. We were both of us betrayed.
The journey seemed so simple -- they all were before --
I thought that I’d come home, and so I locked the door
For River lies.
O:
Darkness in the corners where the firelight fades;
A moment and my simple, careless plans were all unmade.
A door shuts and a key turns and the world is lost.
I wonder, when she left me, if she held the cost
In river eyes.
BOTH:
So River turn back, turn away from this door.
River be kind, for I’ve been here before.
River there’s something here I recognize...
O:
And I have no love left for cruel river eyes...
D:
I have no time left for cold River lies.
BOTH:
River be gentle, oh River be kind,
D:
River please carry me home.
BOTH:
River I’m searching but how can I find
O:
A memory I’ve never known.
BOTH:
So River turn back, turn away from this door.
River be kind, for I’ve been here before.
O:
River I’m burning from all the goodbyes
D:
All of the silence, and all of the lies --
O:
All of the madness I’ve seen in her eyes --
D:
All of the choices we tried to disguise --
BOTH:
And I have no faith left in cold River lies.
Written on: 2001-10-11. Seanan McGuire
Candles on the table in a darkened room;
A long-forgotten voice that sings a half-familiar tune.
Memories I can’t quite hold, but can’t let go.
A bitter smile, and hair as white and cold as snow,
And river eyes...
DECEMBER:
Candles on the table in a darkened room;
Hands entwined like voices as we sing his favorite tune.
Well-loved hands that played me like a mandolin --
The River told me it would take me back to him --
The River lies.
BOTH:
So River turn back, turn away from this door.
River be kind, for I’ve been here before.
River it’s something I won’t recognize...
D:
For I have no faith left in cruel River lies...
O:
I have no faith left in cold river eyes.
D:
Darkness in the corners where the firelight fades;
I never meant to leave him. We were both of us betrayed.
The journey seemed so simple -- they all were before --
I thought that I’d come home, and so I locked the door
For River lies.
O:
Darkness in the corners where the firelight fades;
A moment and my simple, careless plans were all unmade.
A door shuts and a key turns and the world is lost.
I wonder, when she left me, if she held the cost
In river eyes.
BOTH:
So River turn back, turn away from this door.
River be kind, for I’ve been here before.
River there’s something here I recognize...
O:
And I have no love left for cruel river eyes...
D:
I have no time left for cold River lies.
BOTH:
River be gentle, oh River be kind,
D:
River please carry me home.
BOTH:
River I’m searching but how can I find
O:
A memory I’ve never known.
BOTH:
So River turn back, turn away from this door.
River be kind, for I’ve been here before.
O:
River I’m burning from all the goodbyes
D:
All of the silence, and all of the lies --
O:
All of the madness I’ve seen in her eyes --
D:
All of the choices we tried to disguise --
BOTH:
And I have no faith left in cold River lies.
Written on: 2001-10-11. Seanan McGuire
Lyrics submitted by Nonny
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