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.
Oh, so I'm praying all at night
And I wake up praying the whole daylight
I pray to you, and hear my request
I ask of you to save this baby
Oh, look at the girl
Awful inside, is cancer-eaten, is life-deprived,
And if so by who? Could it be you?
I see no need for a baby's wisdom for you
Oh, God, the girl, all yellow turned
Her cheeks are swollen, and soul is burned
Oh, but the girl, the girl is gone
And the deed is done, oh it must be wrong
Oh and I pray, my prayer's not heard
Could it be your death, death to mortal words?
Oh, and see her pain, and drain and drain
Could you be deaf, and blind my friend?
Oh, and so we hold
Cannot you not hear? Cannot you not see?
And if with words
You could change the way things are arranged
Surely you'd be speaking, speaking no change
Oh, but the girl, deaf, dumb, and blind
From the cancer burning deep down inside
Oh, but the deed is done
And the girl is gone
I see no faith
That I have won
Well, you may find your religion
You may find your attraction
You may go, for me the girl is gone
Oh, you may find you're faithful
You may find out the reaction
But to me, the baby's gone
The baby...
Hey... hey...
And I wake up praying the whole daylight
I pray to you, and hear my request
I ask of you to save this baby
Oh, look at the girl
Awful inside, is cancer-eaten, is life-deprived,
And if so by who? Could it be you?
I see no need for a baby's wisdom for you
Oh, God, the girl, all yellow turned
Her cheeks are swollen, and soul is burned
Oh, but the girl, the girl is gone
And the deed is done, oh it must be wrong
Oh and I pray, my prayer's not heard
Could it be your death, death to mortal words?
Oh, and see her pain, and drain and drain
Could you be deaf, and blind my friend?
Oh, and so we hold
Cannot you not hear? Cannot you not see?
And if with words
You could change the way things are arranged
Surely you'd be speaking, speaking no change
Oh, but the girl, deaf, dumb, and blind
From the cancer burning deep down inside
Oh, but the deed is done
And the girl is gone
I see no faith
That I have won
Well, you may find your religion
You may find your attraction
You may go, for me the girl is gone
Oh, you may find you're faithful
You may find out the reaction
But to me, the baby's gone
The baby...
Hey... hey...
Lyrics submitted by flaquito
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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the kid that dave matthews is holding inside uttad is his sister anne's song. anne was murdered by her husband just before the record was realeased and now dave and his sister jane(from the song"the song that jane likes") takes care of him. i think that the girl who died of cancer in the song is meant to be stefan lassard's daughter that died.
this is a truly powerful song. you can find on the "live at luther college" album. it's about how he is questioning god about taking certain people, mainly a little girl who dies of cancer. i'm not sure, but i think it's maybe the little girl who is on the inside cover of "under the table and dreaming". this song is awesome, powerful and sad.
i agree that this a very powerful song, you can tell it means a lot to him, im pretty sure it has to do with the death of Stefans baby
The first time I heard this song I thought it was about an abortion. I didn't even know that Stefan had a baby. And I always thought that the little girl on the inside cover or UTTAD was his sister Anne's little girl. (you know, It says "In Memory of Anne") But I also could be very wrong on all of those predictions.
I dont know what this song is about but just to clear something up, on the inside cover of UTTAD that is Dave's nephew,most likely Anne's son.
I dont know what this song is about but just to clear something up, on the inside cover of UTTAD that is Dave's nephew,most likely Anne's son.
This song is about Stephan's child that died of cancer, has nothing to do with Dave's sister or any supposed child of hers.
Actually, Stefan's child hadn't died until about September 1996. The Luther College version was played in February of that year. Even earlier, there was a full band version played on 10/4/95 and a Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds version played on 9/24/95. It was supposedly recorded during the Crash sessions but was scrapped.
Supposedly, this is about a fan named "Emily" who was stricken with terminal cancer (from dmbalmanac.com) - it's a clear and powerful lament over the loss of a child to cancer.
the song is about Dave questioning faith through prayer, free will and the requests of mankind towards our needs and fate that has already been written.
if the girl became sick and died. it was their fate. no amount of prayer would have changed the event. the expectations of mankind towards God can become skewed as we look through our eyes the activities of God within our daily struggles instead of through Gods eyes and the reason for the event occuring.
dave is learning the knowledge of Good and evil. as he is experiencing things he didnt expect.
he's learning how to be a humbled creature
Firstly, I view Dave as using the word "cancer" broadly to mean an evil condition or something that spreads destructively, NOT only the medical disease.<br /> <br /> I Agree with Me2's interpretation. I feel that this song is about the man's struggle with faith--specifically reconciling the evils of our world with an omnipotent creator who has the ability to cure them.<br /> <br /> Additionally, the last verse :<br /> <br /> "Oh, you may find you're faithful<br /> You may find out the reaction"<br /> <br /> Here he, (the person in the song), addresses those who proclaim to have faith, suggesting to them that once they their faith, they may lose it as well. Dave is suggest that untested certainty, or faith in a higher power is not stronger than those who are struggling and doubt their faith after testing it.
I thought Stefan's daughter died of SIDS, not cancer.