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.
When I was a little girl, I had a rag doll
Only doll I've ever owned
Now I love you just the way I loved that rag doll
But only now, my love has grown
And it gets stronger in every way
And it gets deeper, let me say
And it gets higher, day by day
Do I love you? My, oh, my
River deep, mountain high, yeah, yeah, yeah
If I lost you, would I cry?
Oh, how I love you, baby, baby, baby, baby
When you were a young boy, did you have a puppy
That always followed you around?
Well, I'm gonna be as faithful as that puppy
No, I'll never let you down
'Cause it grows stronger like a river flows
And it gets bigger, baby, and heaven knows
And it gets sweeter, baby, as it grows
Do I love you? My, oh, my
River deep, mountain high, yeah, yeah, yeah
If I lost you, would I cry?
Oh, how I love you, baby, baby, baby, baby
I love you, baby, like a flower loves the spring
And I love you, baby, like the robin loves to sing
And I love you, baby, like a schoolboy loves his pet
And I love you, baby, river deep, mountain high
Oh, baby (oh, baby)
Oh, baby, oh, yeah
Yeah
Do I love you? My, oh, my, yeah
River deep, mountain high, yeah, yeah, yeah
If I lost you, would I cry?
Oh, how I love you, baby, baby, baby, baby
Only doll I've ever owned
Now I love you just the way I loved that rag doll
But only now, my love has grown
And it gets stronger in every way
And it gets deeper, let me say
And it gets higher, day by day
Do I love you? My, oh, my
River deep, mountain high, yeah, yeah, yeah
If I lost you, would I cry?
Oh, how I love you, baby, baby, baby, baby
When you were a young boy, did you have a puppy
That always followed you around?
Well, I'm gonna be as faithful as that puppy
No, I'll never let you down
'Cause it grows stronger like a river flows
And it gets bigger, baby, and heaven knows
And it gets sweeter, baby, as it grows
Do I love you? My, oh, my
River deep, mountain high, yeah, yeah, yeah
If I lost you, would I cry?
Oh, how I love you, baby, baby, baby, baby
I love you, baby, like a flower loves the spring
And I love you, baby, like the robin loves to sing
And I love you, baby, like a schoolboy loves his pet
And I love you, baby, river deep, mountain high
Oh, baby (oh, baby)
Oh, baby, oh, yeah
Yeah
Do I love you? My, oh, my, yeah
River deep, mountain high, yeah, yeah, yeah
If I lost you, would I cry?
Oh, how I love you, baby, baby, baby, baby
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.