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.
With their eldest out in the field
Since the day that the orders came
And took their youngest boy away
Took him over the ocean
Like a soldier he showed no emotion
He'd always been special
Not just one of the crowd
Got his name in the papers
Would've made his old man so proud
And you can see for miles around
Standing up on the shoulders of my little town
With a heartbeat that's big and profound
You can hear it out there
You can feel it I swear
Where the restless gotta get out of this place
Those who've settled search for a saving grace
You can see the stories written there on their faces
In my little town
My little town
Another fight in a war gone wrong
But our soldier stands big and strong
He's thinking words he wouldn't say
So he talks of his girl back home
How they made angels in the falling snow
We're saving our money
To move out on our own
In a little house nearby
She's gonna make it our home someday
And you can see for miles around
Standing up on the shoulders of my little town
With a heartbeat that's big and profound
You can hear it out there
You can feel it I swear
When I come home my girl's gonna be surprised
I'm gonna slip in the back door like a dream in disguise
And we'll make love while she's looking in my eyes
In my little town
My little town
Well we have a factory with idle machines
And high school heroes with their scholarship dreams
Where weekend warriors have answered the call
Who's homecomings weren't a surprise after all
And now that mother with her chin on her chest
Says she wishes they'd have dressed him in his Sunday best
'Cause he ain't just another soldier that's been laid to rest
In my little town
My little town
And his girl is still asleep upstairs
In that little house that would've been theirs
She wants to dream now that hope is scarce
In my little town
My little town
My little town
Since the day that the orders came
And took their youngest boy away
Took him over the ocean
Like a soldier he showed no emotion
He'd always been special
Not just one of the crowd
Got his name in the papers
Would've made his old man so proud
And you can see for miles around
Standing up on the shoulders of my little town
With a heartbeat that's big and profound
You can hear it out there
You can feel it I swear
Where the restless gotta get out of this place
Those who've settled search for a saving grace
You can see the stories written there on their faces
In my little town
My little town
Another fight in a war gone wrong
But our soldier stands big and strong
He's thinking words he wouldn't say
So he talks of his girl back home
How they made angels in the falling snow
We're saving our money
To move out on our own
In a little house nearby
She's gonna make it our home someday
And you can see for miles around
Standing up on the shoulders of my little town
With a heartbeat that's big and profound
You can hear it out there
You can feel it I swear
When I come home my girl's gonna be surprised
I'm gonna slip in the back door like a dream in disguise
And we'll make love while she's looking in my eyes
In my little town
My little town
Well we have a factory with idle machines
And high school heroes with their scholarship dreams
Where weekend warriors have answered the call
Who's homecomings weren't a surprise after all
And now that mother with her chin on her chest
Says she wishes they'd have dressed him in his Sunday best
'Cause he ain't just another soldier that's been laid to rest
In my little town
My little town
And his girl is still asleep upstairs
In that little house that would've been theirs
She wants to dream now that hope is scarce
In my little town
My little town
My little town
Lyrics submitted by Naverick
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.