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.
She had 13 kids, each one had 13 problems
Three uppers, ten downers, just to put up with this
And she don't know which children belong to which father
But she loves them all anyway and they each get a kiss
And the toilet ain't flushing and the toaster is smoking
The vacuum don't suck but it needs a new belt
But she saw the world through the eyes of a child
And remembers how good it was and how good it felt
He picked up the paper from the bitter cold morning
He had just gone to sleep, he had to get up for work
By morning he's a watchman and by night he's a waiter
In the late afternoon he works as a clerk
And he can't pay the doctor bills, he just can't afford the pills
The car's repossesed and the child support's due
But he saw the world through the eyes of a child
Big problems seem smaller and old things seem new
She was just six when she turned her first trick
Now she's thirteen and it don't make her sick
And she does lots of crystal and she owns her own pistol
Got a goldfish named Silver and a pimp who's named Rick
And some are like customers and some are like patients
She'd have gone back to school if she'd just had the patience
But she saw the world through the eyes of a child
None of the nightmares, and nothing to deny
She saw the world through the eyes of a child
Yes she's seen it all and she knows they're all lies
Three uppers, ten downers, just to put up with this
And she don't know which children belong to which father
But she loves them all anyway and they each get a kiss
And the toilet ain't flushing and the toaster is smoking
The vacuum don't suck but it needs a new belt
But she saw the world through the eyes of a child
And remembers how good it was and how good it felt
He picked up the paper from the bitter cold morning
He had just gone to sleep, he had to get up for work
By morning he's a watchman and by night he's a waiter
In the late afternoon he works as a clerk
And he can't pay the doctor bills, he just can't afford the pills
The car's repossesed and the child support's due
But he saw the world through the eyes of a child
Big problems seem smaller and old things seem new
She was just six when she turned her first trick
Now she's thirteen and it don't make her sick
And she does lots of crystal and she owns her own pistol
Got a goldfish named Silver and a pimp who's named Rick
And some are like customers and some are like patients
She'd have gone back to school if she'd just had the patience
But she saw the world through the eyes of a child
None of the nightmares, and nothing to deny
She saw the world through the eyes of a child
Yes she's seen it all and she knows they're all lies
Lyrics submitted by Reverend Duck
Eyes of a Child Lyrics as written by David Anthony Pirner David Pirner
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Really? No comments? Well blah. This band was so underrated. Love this song and can relate to it well. The meaning is pretty obvious. Just can't believe there's no comments...
A great tune. And what a fantastic, truthful message it conveys too. I loved this song when I was younger and now, with two kids, I see it in a whole new light. Seeing the world through the eyes of a child is wonderful. It is too easy to forget that life is meant to be fun, and that is all they see. Don't grow up too much, I guess, is the lesson. And I agree, Soul Asylum are a vastly underrated band who often don't seem to get the recognition they deserve. Definitely recommend Grave Dancer's Union and Let Your Dim Light Shine, also Hang Time if you wish to delve back further.