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.
Well sometimes I go out by myself
And I look across the water
And I, think of all the things
What you're doing
And through my head I make a picture
'Cause since I've come on home
Well my body's been a mess
And I miss your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over
Stop making a fool out of me
Why won't you come on over
Valerie, Valerie
Did you have to go to jail
Put your house on up for sale?
Did you get a good lawyer?
I hope you didn't catch a tan
I hope you find the right man
Who'll fix it for you
Are you shopping anywhere
Changed the color of your hair
Are you busy?
And did you have to pay the fine
You were dodging all the time are you still dizzy?
'Cause since I've come on home
Well my body's been a mess
And I miss your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over
Stop making a fool out of me
Why wont you come on over
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
Well sometimes I go out by myself
And I look across the water
And I, think of all the things
What you're doing
And in my head I make a picture
'Cause since I've come on home
Well my body's been a mess
And I miss your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over
Stop making a fool out of me
Why won't you come on over
Valerie, Valerie
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
And I look across the water
And I, think of all the things
What you're doing
And through my head I make a picture
'Cause since I've come on home
Well my body's been a mess
And I miss your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over
Stop making a fool out of me
Why won't you come on over
Valerie, Valerie
Did you have to go to jail
Put your house on up for sale?
Did you get a good lawyer?
I hope you didn't catch a tan
I hope you find the right man
Who'll fix it for you
Are you shopping anywhere
Changed the color of your hair
Are you busy?
And did you have to pay the fine
You were dodging all the time are you still dizzy?
'Cause since I've come on home
Well my body's been a mess
And I miss your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over
Stop making a fool out of me
Why wont you come on over
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
Well sometimes I go out by myself
And I look across the water
And I, think of all the things
What you're doing
And in my head I make a picture
'Cause since I've come on home
Well my body's been a mess
And I miss your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over
Stop making a fool out of me
Why won't you come on over
Valerie, Valerie
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
Lyrics submitted by thestephness
Valerie Lyrics as written by Boyan Chowdhury Abigail Harding
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Apparently it's about a fan that the lead singer fell in love with.
i saw a TV interview with the zutons and they said it's about a friend of theirs who got caught drink-driving. "did you have to pay the fine, you were dodging all the time" and "did you have to go to jail, put your house up for sale, did you get a good lawyer" back this up. David McCabe also said he hasn't spoken to Valerie since the single was released but "she'll probably think i'm in love with her or something [laughs] "
The real meaning of this song according to Dave is that he misses a mate of his who he met in America when they went on tour there. Not a girlfriend or anything.
I think Valerie is a metaphor for a Steak Bake from Greggs and the pleasure he gets from eating one
Well we've all been there. Screw it up and then regret it for years. Yep, sounds familiar. Great song. Almost as good as Confusion which is near the top of my top 10 at the moment. What a band.
At last, a song that restores meaning the the idea of a love song. Valerie is "dizzy" and forever in trouble, but does that make a difference to him? Nope. He just misses her.
This song always reminds me of this guy I know, and he's always breaking up with girls and going out with new ones really quickly, but he's only ever been in love with one of them, and she was a bit... erm, quirky, like the valerie of this song, and she had ginger hair, dressed weirdly. Also, he always wonders about her, and goes down to the Mersey to think about her, which is where I presume Dave (the singer) goes when he refers to 'I look across the water'. Just really similar situations methinks
I think it's about a past relationship between the singer and a girl, but she went away from him and he just misses her and feels alone without this girl, Valerie.
I heard this song was about Aveline fom bread- its almost an anagram....
agreed with both above. AW changes the whole song and though her voice is butter, the original has a certain vitality and unavoidable catchiness.
song's about loss and desire to mend the damage distance has done. or something.