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.
I'm sorry that I left you
With your questions all alone
But I was too happy driving
And too angry to drive home
I was thinking about the easy courage
Of my distant friends
They said I could let this bridge wash out
And never make amends
Can I blow this small town
Make a big sound
Like the star of a film noir postcard
Can I just forget the frames I shared with you
And I can't believe what they're saying
They're saying I can change my mind
Start over on Spring Street
I'm welcome anytime
Well there are Spring Street storefront daisies
Floating on their neon stems
There are new shirts on the clothes racks
Should I feel like one of them
I can find a small apartment
Where a struggling artist died
And pretend because I pay the rent
I know that pain inside
Yeah, let's watch the tour bus stop and tell us
Here's the scene of a spring green life dream
Take the best part
Write it in your caffeine diary
And I can't believe what they're saying
They're saying I can leave tonight
Start over on Spring Street
I'm welcome anytime
This year April had a blizzard
Just to show she did not care
And the new dead leaves
They made the trees look like children with gray hair
But I'll push myself up through the dirt
And shake my petals free
I'm resolved to being born
And so resigned to bravery
Yeah the one who leaves this also grieves this
Too much rain on a prairie flood plain
Houses floating, love is like that
We built on the river
And that's to say, yeah I'm leaving
But I don't have to go there
I don't have to go to Spring Street
'Cause it's spring everywhere...
With your questions all alone
But I was too happy driving
And too angry to drive home
I was thinking about the easy courage
Of my distant friends
They said I could let this bridge wash out
And never make amends
Can I blow this small town
Make a big sound
Like the star of a film noir postcard
Can I just forget the frames I shared with you
And I can't believe what they're saying
They're saying I can change my mind
Start over on Spring Street
I'm welcome anytime
Well there are Spring Street storefront daisies
Floating on their neon stems
There are new shirts on the clothes racks
Should I feel like one of them
I can find a small apartment
Where a struggling artist died
And pretend because I pay the rent
I know that pain inside
Yeah, let's watch the tour bus stop and tell us
Here's the scene of a spring green life dream
Take the best part
Write it in your caffeine diary
And I can't believe what they're saying
They're saying I can leave tonight
Start over on Spring Street
I'm welcome anytime
This year April had a blizzard
Just to show she did not care
And the new dead leaves
They made the trees look like children with gray hair
But I'll push myself up through the dirt
And shake my petals free
I'm resolved to being born
And so resigned to bravery
Yeah the one who leaves this also grieves this
Too much rain on a prairie flood plain
Houses floating, love is like that
We built on the river
And that's to say, yeah I'm leaving
But I don't have to go there
I don't have to go to Spring Street
'Cause it's spring everywhere...
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Dar WIlliams is always very clever with her dual meanings and her seasons-of-relationships metaphors. She intertwines the growing career aspirations (the poetic lure of SoHo) -- the ever-present lure to "sell out" and her need to grow past a relationship that was built on a weak foundation. I think the resolution that "moving on" is just "moving on" regardless of where that movement is ends up being one of her more idealistic and hopeful messages. There is an earnest reaching out to be happy with change, however painful.
Ironically enough, Spring Street itself has been renovated lately.
Does anyone know which spring street she means, because i live on spring street in philly, but i know there are others. This song means alot to me, It was my favorite song during the time a few years ago when i was at a sort of golden age with the love of my life (who passed away soon after).
"The royalty checks had started coming in, and I thought,
I'm really wealthy,' " she jokes, mocking her own naïveté. "I showed the apartment to somebody and they said,You're thinking of moving there? You could never afford it!' " But it wouldn't be a Dar Williams song if the thought process stopped there. Williams, who's hyper-analytical of herself and everything around her, realized how close she had come to betraying her authenticity by coveting that SoHo apartment. "The song is scary because, basically, I thought I could replace coolness with the commodity of coolness." When I point out with near-airhead redundancy that SoHo has long symbolized the "commodity of coolness," she pauses for a half-beat of effect. "Well, yeah. That's why I called the songSpring Street.' Instead ofDar.' It's about fear of self-commodification."