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.
Just an old fashioned love song playing on the radio
And wrapped around the music
Is the sound of someone promising they'll never go
You swear you've heard it before
As it slowly rambles on
No need in bringing 'em back
'Cause they've never really gone
Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
Just an old fashioned love song
Coming down in three part harmony
To weave our dreams upon and listen
To each evening when the lights are low
To underscore our love affair with tenderness and feeling
That we've come to know
You swear you've heard it before
As it slowly rambles on and on
No need in bringing 'em back
'Cause they've never really gone
Just an old fashioned love song
Coming down in three part harmony
Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
Just an old fashioned love song
Coming down in three part harmony
Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
To weave our dreams upon and listen to a song
Just an old song coming down
Just (just) an old song
What I'm sure they wrote for you and me
Just (just) an old song
Coming down
Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
Just an old fashioned love song
Coming down in three part harmony
Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
Just an old fashioned love song
Coming down in three part harmony
Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
And wrapped around the music
Is the sound of someone promising they'll never go
You swear you've heard it before
As it slowly rambles on
No need in bringing 'em back
'Cause they've never really gone
Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
Just an old fashioned love song
Coming down in three part harmony
To weave our dreams upon and listen
To each evening when the lights are low
To underscore our love affair with tenderness and feeling
That we've come to know
You swear you've heard it before
As it slowly rambles on and on
No need in bringing 'em back
'Cause they've never really gone
Just an old fashioned love song
Coming down in three part harmony
Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
Just an old fashioned love song
Coming down in three part harmony
Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
To weave our dreams upon and listen to a song
Just an old song coming down
Just (just) an old song
What I'm sure they wrote for you and me
Just (just) an old song
Coming down
Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
Just an old fashioned love song
Coming down in three part harmony
Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
Just an old fashioned love song
Coming down in three part harmony
Just an old fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
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This is like my favorite TDG song. Come on people. CHAT!!
What an awesome band, and furthermore an awesome song. its intertwining old fashioned music of the time with present day music ion the 60's/70's. Confused yet? good! well its classic now and Three Dog Night willl live on into history through their songs even if the people singing them in their heads dont know the bands name. no im not stoned ive just always been special like this so keep weaarin your buckskin boots! Peace!
This is my favorite TDN song as well. Very straightforward meaning...
I've never noticed how well this song is written. It's just such a nice, chill melody.
Great version of the song, but its not 'their' song; it was written by Paul Williams who earlier that same year released his own version on an album of the same name. He wrote for a LOT of songs for other people (his voice is rough and as the 70s passed being a great songwriter wasn't enough to offset his short height, youthful looks and gravelly voice, pity, nowadays people like PW, Joan Baez, even 3DN couldn't get contracts as singers because they dont look and sound like some 'popstar' or boyband.
from wiki... "American Academy Award-winning composer, musician, songwriter, and actor. He is perhaps best known for popular songs performed by a number of groups in the 70's including Three Dog Night's "Just An Old-Fashioned Love Song", Helen Reddy's "You And Me Against The World", and The Carpenters' "We've Only Just Begun" as well as his contributions to films such as "Evergreen" from A Star Is Born and "Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie. He has also had a variety of acting roles in film, television, and theater, and done voiceover work for animation."
I suggest checking him out, if you like 3DN and 'Old Fashioned Love Song' you'll probably like PW, though I also suggest you do not start with Phantom of the Paradise, his musical as its sort of Faust meets Glam Rock and I'm not sure how understandable the music is without watching the movie first, lol.
Paul Williams performed a segment of this song on an Odd Couple episode. Very touching episode featuring Felix's daughter Edna.