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.
Gray Jane was a riverchild
Born down by the river wild
Said, hey, what I wanna be
Nobody's gonna intervene
And she wants you but you won't do
And it won't leave you alone
And the rain falls on the wrong year
And it won't leave you alone
It won't leave you alone
Could be that he's into you
Could be that the obverse is true
Struck down as a summerchild
Ten steps just to run a mile
And he wants you but you won't do
And it won't leave you alone
And the rain falls on the wrong year
And it won't leave you alone
It won't leave you alone
It won't leave you alone
The spirit's willin'
Flesh is getting bored
Speakers blaring out some long forgotten chord
Some misbegotten, long forgotten chord
Sing me some eidolon
And I'll sleep all the winter long
'Til then I can only be
Nobody's gonna intervene
And she wants you but you won't do
And it won't leave you alone
And the rain falls on the wrong year
And it won't leave you alone
It won't leave you alone
It won't leave you alone
It won't leave you alone
Born down by the river wild
Said, hey, what I wanna be
Nobody's gonna intervene
And she wants you but you won't do
And it won't leave you alone
And the rain falls on the wrong year
And it won't leave you alone
It won't leave you alone
Could be that he's into you
Could be that the obverse is true
Struck down as a summerchild
Ten steps just to run a mile
And he wants you but you won't do
And it won't leave you alone
And the rain falls on the wrong year
And it won't leave you alone
It won't leave you alone
It won't leave you alone
The spirit's willin'
Flesh is getting bored
Speakers blaring out some long forgotten chord
Some misbegotten, long forgotten chord
Sing me some eidolon
And I'll sleep all the winter long
'Til then I can only be
Nobody's gonna intervene
And she wants you but you won't do
And it won't leave you alone
And the rain falls on the wrong year
And it won't leave you alone
It won't leave you alone
It won't leave you alone
It won't leave you alone
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