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.
We all know that she’s bright,
but sometimes she just doesn’t pay attention.
The stuff you talked about last night,
she’ll look like it’s a subject you just mentioned.
She stops outside the station,
and she ponders for a minute -
there’s a train that’s leaving soon,
she wonders if she should be in it,
and decisions such as these,
happen slightly to the East of Louise.
She tells herself she’s lonely,
an isolated queen in a city castle.
She was somebody’s one and only,
but somehow it just wasn’t worth the hassle.
But hey, relationships can wither,
the least said the soonest mended -
she wrote it in a letter,
but she never got it sended.
And love is like a breeze
that passes somewhere to the East of Louise.
And I think I’m falling for her...
I lay my pearls of wisdom before her,
but after ten minutes they just bore her back to tears.
While she struggles with a laptop
I make coffee and I offer my suggestions.
She says she’s lost a thousand e-mails
from potential lovers asking the same questions.
And I tell her, ‘love’s another virus,
it can eat your heart alive-’
and she takes it off the desktop,
but it stays there on the drive.
And the instructions are Chinese,
And that’s too far to the East of Louise...
but sometimes she just doesn’t pay attention.
The stuff you talked about last night,
she’ll look like it’s a subject you just mentioned.
She stops outside the station,
and she ponders for a minute -
there’s a train that’s leaving soon,
she wonders if she should be in it,
and decisions such as these,
happen slightly to the East of Louise.
She tells herself she’s lonely,
an isolated queen in a city castle.
She was somebody’s one and only,
but somehow it just wasn’t worth the hassle.
But hey, relationships can wither,
the least said the soonest mended -
she wrote it in a letter,
but she never got it sended.
And love is like a breeze
that passes somewhere to the East of Louise.
And I think I’m falling for her...
I lay my pearls of wisdom before her,
but after ten minutes they just bore her back to tears.
While she struggles with a laptop
I make coffee and I offer my suggestions.
She says she’s lost a thousand e-mails
from potential lovers asking the same questions.
And I tell her, ‘love’s another virus,
it can eat your heart alive-’
and she takes it off the desktop,
but it stays there on the drive.
And the instructions are Chinese,
And that’s too far to the East of Louise...
Lyrics submitted by robertcousins
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."