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.
No matter how strong
I'm going to take you down with one little stone
I'm going to break you down and see what you're worth
What you're really worth to me
Dinner at eight was okay before the toasts full of gleams
It was great until those old magazines
Got us started up again
Actually it was probably me again
But why is it so
That I've always been the one who must go
That I've always been the one told to flee
When in fact you were the one
Long ago, actually in the drifting white snow
Who left me?
So put up your fists and I'll put up mine
No running away from the scene of the crime
God's chosen a place
Somewhere near the end of the world
Somewhere near the end of our lives
But till then no daddy don't be surprised
If I want to see the tears in your eyes
Then I know it had to be
Long ago, actually in the drifting white snow
You loved me
I'm going to take you down with one little stone
I'm going to break you down and see what you're worth
What you're really worth to me
Dinner at eight was okay before the toasts full of gleams
It was great until those old magazines
Got us started up again
Actually it was probably me again
But why is it so
That I've always been the one who must go
That I've always been the one told to flee
When in fact you were the one
Long ago, actually in the drifting white snow
Who left me?
So put up your fists and I'll put up mine
No running away from the scene of the crime
God's chosen a place
Somewhere near the end of the world
Somewhere near the end of our lives
But till then no daddy don't be surprised
If I want to see the tears in your eyes
Then I know it had to be
Long ago, actually in the drifting white snow
You loved me
Lyrics submitted by BlueAndStarry
Dinner at Eight Lyrics as written by Rufus Wainwright
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great version of a great song,
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I don't know about Loudon, but my eyes do fill up every single time I hear this song.
I discovered this song briefly after the day my dad died and my second son was born (yaeh, on the SAME FREAKING DAY), so imagine what a heavy load of father-son meanings it carries for me.
I'm surprised no one has commented on this gorgeous song. He wrote it about his father and an argument they got in over a Rolling Stone photo shoot over dinner one night, which led him to thoughts of how he was abandoned by his father earlier in life.
To me, it's probably the most (straightforwardly) honest and personal song he's written so far. It's beautifully written, with the musical climax hitting right at the fighting imagery ("put up your fists/and I'll put up mine"). It's so brutal, yet so loving. One of the defining songs that makes Rufus one of the best new songwriters of the past decade.
I agree entirely with what you have said.
Maybe the reason for the lack of comments is that there's really nothing more than can be said about this, besides the song itself. Both the meaning and sentiment are clear.
What i find most appealing about this song is what you mentioned about the brutality and lovingness of it. I think it reflects how a lot of relationships can be where there is a lot of passion and a strong bond.
I think this is captured most beautifull in the lines "But 'til then no, Daddy, don't be surprised If I wanna see the tears in your eyes". The fact that rufus says such a cruel thing, and then directs it towards his father using a term that is usually connected with adoration and love is gorgeous.
i agree i agree also i think:
No matter how strong I'm gonna take you down With one little stone I'm gonna break you down And see what you're worth What you're really worth to me
is the key to the song. Rufus throws hate in order to see how it feels -- if he indeed cares -- if its really worth it...
correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this a cover of one of his father's songs?
it's a pretty spiteful cover at that
Such a musically simple song and yet so friggin powerful...I always thought this was about getting thrust back into normal life after really tense times during the course of any relationship.
sammi: this isn't a loudon cover, but it was written as a response to a big fight they had. all i have to say is that if i was rufus' dad and i heard this song, i'd be hurting real bad. =( this song breaks my heart.