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.
Water, water on the seeds
To my left they rose and leaf
To my right cross seven seas
Maybe, maybe they'll stay true
My seeds will cross and then take root
And leave you to an empty room
Lonely, lonely that is you
Lonely, lonely that is you
Paper, paper obsolete
How will you reach out to me?
I thought you'd ask me not to leave
Lonely, lonely that is me
Lonely, lonely that is me
Distance makes the heart grow weak
So that the mouth can barely speak
Except to those who hide their needs
And I have read the golden seal
That tells of how the seedlings feel
Reminds my heart what love can yield
By my only things are clear
Baby boy, I'm staying here
Lonely, lonely that was you
Lonely, and so untrue
To my left they rose and leaf
To my right cross seven seas
Maybe, maybe they'll stay true
My seeds will cross and then take root
And leave you to an empty room
Lonely, lonely that is you
Lonely, lonely that is you
Paper, paper obsolete
How will you reach out to me?
I thought you'd ask me not to leave
Lonely, lonely that is me
Lonely, lonely that is me
Distance makes the heart grow weak
So that the mouth can barely speak
Except to those who hide their needs
And I have read the golden seal
That tells of how the seedlings feel
Reminds my heart what love can yield
By my only things are clear
Baby boy, I'm staying here
Lonely, lonely that was you
Lonely, and so untrue
Lyrics submitted by science.is.sexy
Lonely Lonely Lyrics as written by Tony Scherr Leslie Feist
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great version of a great song,
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I believe this song talks about a long distance relationship. Where a girl decides to move to another country leaving her boyfriend “to an empty room”. At first the couple misses one another but with distance the boys heart goes weak and he no longer calls or writes. Making "paper obsolete". The girl thought he would reach out to her. When the song speaks about the heart going weak so that mouth can barely speak it talks about their love going weak and them having nothing to talk about but if they do talk it would be about significant things as the boyfriend hides "his need" to end the relationship because he no longer loves her the same way. They thought their relationship would last. When the song says "By my only things are clear Baby boy I'm staying here Lonely lonely that was you Lonely and so untrue" it speaks about the girl staying where she moved to and all the things the boyfriend said about him loving her was a lie and untrue being as he barely called, wrote, and that his love didn’t withstand distance. The girl thought he would ask her to come back or not to leave but he did not making their love untrue. The girl compares love to seeds. She has read the golden seal on the packet where the seeds are kept . The golden seal tells of how the seeds….meaning love feel and it reminds her of what love can yield. Basically it reminds her of the love they felt and about their relationship which is now over. She is sad now that it is over but it is for the better and that is why the song ends in a happy tune.
the frisbee'd mix of this song is entrancing.
agreed!
why do you think this song says she was cheated on?
I think this song is about leaving someone, even if its only for a little while, and really missing that person. the seeds that cross the seven seas is a metaphor for parting ways with someone, and taking root is a way of saying that you've been gone long enough to say your starting to feel at home, when really your far away from the person you love. and you keep wondering if your still in love with that person. when they send mail to eachother through the paper she wonders why he hasn't told her to come back, or why he didnt tell her to stay in the first place. and after a while she gets the impression that he's not missing her anymore and that he may have found someone else. when he tells her of this or when she figures it out, she decides to stay where she is and not go back to him. in the last few lines, i think shes saying that she thought he was lonely just as she was when she first left, but she realizes she was wrong and hes not as lonely as she thought but she still is. Fantastic lyrics :)
I beg to differ with those of you who actually consider the fact that the woman singing is saying the guy cheated. I do not see any direct reference to that. I think rather than that what she is really disappointed about is the fact that the man did not have the guts to accept the feelings, and deal with them. I think the whole point is that she knows that there is so much potential, and that due to the lack of communication and the huge ego of the man to not look for her nothing is possible. It's a beautiful song either way. It really allowed me to see the ways in which this actually has occurred in my life. Sometimes you love someone so much that you simply have to let it die, because it is the only way they understand how much they loved you, and most importantly how much you loved them. How you were able to let them figure their life, rather than keep pushing for something
this one is lovely live. there is a little man and all he does it the little clapping bit. various easy metaphors about distance and being together and love and flowers, hmm?
I cannot believe this song only has one comment. It's easily one of the best off of "Let IT Die" (though the whole thing's quite lovely)
Distance, being cheated on, and love. What more can you want from a song?
I cannot believe this song only has one comment. It's easily one of the best off of "Let IT Die" (though the whole thing's quite lovely)
Distance, being cheated on, and love. What more can you want from a song?
I think it's her saying "Yeah you cheated, yeah you were stupid but I'm sticking around because I'm not weak like you."
..or something.
beautiful song, though. I love Feist