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.
Your tells are so obvious
Shoulders too broad for a girl
Keeps you reminded
Helps you to remember where you come from
You want them to notice
The ragged ends of your summer dress
You want them to see you
Like they see every other girl
They just see a faggot
They hold their breath not to catch the sick
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone with you
With you, with you
You've got no cunt in your strut
You've got no hips to shake
And you know it's obvious
But we can't choose how we're made
You want them to notice
The ragged ends of your summer dress
You want them to see you
Like they see every other girl
They just see a faggot
They hold their breath not to catch the sick
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone with you
With you, with you
You want them to notice
The ragged ends of your summer dress
You want them to see you
Like they see every other girl
They just see a faggot
They hold their breath not to catch the sick
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone with you
With you, with you
Shoulders too broad for a girl
Keeps you reminded
Helps you to remember where you come from
You want them to notice
The ragged ends of your summer dress
You want them to see you
Like they see every other girl
They just see a faggot
They hold their breath not to catch the sick
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone with you
With you, with you
You've got no cunt in your strut
You've got no hips to shake
And you know it's obvious
But we can't choose how we're made
You want them to notice
The ragged ends of your summer dress
You want them to see you
Like they see every other girl
They just see a faggot
They hold their breath not to catch the sick
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone with you
With you, with you
You want them to notice
The ragged ends of your summer dress
You want them to see you
Like they see every other girl
They just see a faggot
They hold their breath not to catch the sick
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone with you
With you, with you
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So many of us can relate to this...
I love it when she sings, "You want them to notice"... Makes me think of the song 'Ocean' and of Laura writing such explicit, personal lyrics back then and hoping somebody would bring up the subject of her gender identity but nobody even took the lyrics seriously.
"You want them to see you like they see every other girl They just see a faggot"... Great lyrics full of honesty.
I feel like Rough Surf On The Coast is a reference to The Ocean. And in The Ocean is the song where he first says I wish I was born a woman, called Laura etc.
I remember a video where Laura talked about this song. She was reading journal entries from like 2010, there was one that talked about buying women's clothes from a department store when she was still closeted, and the salesperson treated her like crap. But at the same time, she's also mentioned "getting beat up a lot" in school. I feel like this song could just as easily describe bullying, especially "rough surf on the coast, wish i could've spent the whole day alone"
The line that hit me was, “They hold their breath not to catch the sick.” Such a powerful statement. Real. Reminded me of “cooties” when I was in, like, kindergarden. Now, in the song she’s much older but getting it from both boys and girls—rejected by all. Cuts deep.