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.
A-what is that you said?
You got a whistle in the wind, a- yeah,
A-go down, go down, a-go down, go down
Feel for me and I will feel for you
Fa-feel, feel, feel whistles in the wind as I go down
Oh, feel, feel, whistles in the wind as I go down, go down
Are you bringin' the dawn, daddy long legger,
The dandelion dawn, baby, when the cat turned blue
Are ya bringin' the dawn daddy long legger
Dandelion dawn
Are ya bringin' the dawn daddy long legger
All a-long when the cat turned blue
(when the cat turned blue)
Ah! when the cat turned blue.
And what is that you said?
You got to whistle in the winds again, yeah
And what is that you said?
You got to whistle in the winds again, yeah.
Feel for me and I will feel for you
Feel for me and I will feel for you
Feel, feel, feel, feel
Fa-feel, feel, feel whistles in the wind as I go down
Feel, feel, whistles in the wind as I go down, go down
Are you bringin' the dawn, daddy long legger,
The dandelion dawn, baby, when the cat turned blue
Are ya bringin' the dawn daddy long legger
Dandelion dawn
Are ya bringin' the dawn daddy long legger
All a-long when the cat turned blue
(when the cat turned blue)
Ah! when the cat turned blue.
Feel for me and I will feel for you
Feel for me and I will feel for you
Feel, feel, feel, feel
You got a whistle in the wind, a- yeah,
A-go down, go down, a-go down, go down
Feel for me and I will feel for you
Fa-feel, feel, feel whistles in the wind as I go down
Oh, feel, feel, whistles in the wind as I go down, go down
Are you bringin' the dawn, daddy long legger,
The dandelion dawn, baby, when the cat turned blue
Are ya bringin' the dawn daddy long legger
Dandelion dawn
Are ya bringin' the dawn daddy long legger
All a-long when the cat turned blue
(when the cat turned blue)
Ah! when the cat turned blue.
And what is that you said?
You got to whistle in the winds again, yeah
And what is that you said?
You got to whistle in the winds again, yeah.
Feel for me and I will feel for you
Feel for me and I will feel for you
Feel, feel, feel, feel
Fa-feel, feel, feel whistles in the wind as I go down
Feel, feel, whistles in the wind as I go down, go down
Are you bringin' the dawn, daddy long legger,
The dandelion dawn, baby, when the cat turned blue
Are ya bringin' the dawn daddy long legger
Dandelion dawn
Are ya bringin' the dawn daddy long legger
All a-long when the cat turned blue
(when the cat turned blue)
Ah! when the cat turned blue.
Feel for me and I will feel for you
Feel for me and I will feel for you
Feel, feel, feel, feel
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
this song was going through my head this morning, and for a while I tricked myself into thinking the lyrics went "Got kicked in the balls, daddy long legger"
But.. it's not. ahem For some reason, it reminds me of Galaxy, by Blindmelon.
i own the original booklet from the album and the quots from this song put the "feel"s as "Fear"
i hate to criticize, but the word FEEL is so wrong! the word is definitely FEAR. Fear for me, I will fear for you, and fear whistles in the wind. (How could FEEL whistle? that makes no sense at all.) It makes a lot of difference in the WHOLE meaning of the song. All that - plus, the lyrics are in the liner notes of the cd.