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.
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
My cherie amour, lovely as a summer day
My cherie amour, distant as the Milky Way
My cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore
You're the only girl my heart beats for
How I wish that you were mine
In a café or sometimes on a crowded street
I've been near you, but you never noticed me
My cherie amour, won't you tell me how could you ignore
That behind that little smile I wore
How I wish that you were mine
La-la-la-la-la-la
La la la la la la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
Maybe someday, you'll see my face among the crowd
Maybe someday, I'll share your little distant cloud
Oh, cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore
You're the only girl my heart beats for
How I wish that you were mine
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
My cherie amour, lovely as a summer day
My cherie amour, distant as the Milky Way
My cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore
You're the only girl my heart beats for
How I wish that you were mine
In a café or sometimes on a crowded street
I've been near you, but you never noticed me
My cherie amour, won't you tell me how could you ignore
That behind that little smile I wore
How I wish that you were mine
La-la-la-la-la-la
La la la la la la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
Maybe someday, you'll see my face among the crowd
Maybe someday, I'll share your little distant cloud
Oh, cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore
You're the only girl my heart beats for
How I wish that you were mine
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la
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That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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How could no one comment on this song??? La la la la la la. I love this song soooo much. Everytime I hear it, I have to start it over and listen to it at least one more time. To me, this is one of his best songs. The man's a genious!
My favorite line is "Maybe someday I'll share your little distant cloud." It sounds like he is in love with a woman who is lost in her own world and is completely oblivious to her surroundings and the fact that he watches her with loving eyes. It's so sweet because some people just don't realize how much they can mean to someone.
This song speaks of a man who is heartsick, in love with someone but whose love is unnoticed, or under- or unappreciated - or, more generally, the man is heartsick because he desires a relationship, but sees that the relationship is unattainable. It is probably about a romantic interest, but the song speaks to me in a different context: I am hearsick about a young girl who I wish I could adopt, but life just is not going to work out that way for us.
I agree with the previous comment. This is one of my favorite songs ever. I do think it's ironic, however, that Stevie Wonder can write about seeing this girl in the crowd when he is blind. I can't help wondering how it made him feel to sing those words. Anyway, it's a great song.
omfg <3 Ok. Wonder wrote this song about a woman he was fascinated with while in school at the Michigan School for the Blind in Lansing, Michigan.
The song was originally written as "Oh My Marcia", for Stevie's girlfriend but after they fell off the lyrics were changed to cherie amour.
Yeah sfgirl82 put it perfectly. It's a really sad song to me because I'm in a situation like this for a long long time. what's really sad is that I don't think I'll ever get out of this situation..
I'm currently in this situation my self. :0\
La la la- Crap, now it's stuck in my head for the rest of the day. Oh well, at least the song is good.
when ever i hear this song i can't help but think of the scene in almost famous where penny lane is getting her stomach pumped...i think it fits perfectly with this song in some ironic sick way. love the song.
I love this song from the bottom of my heart....I actually feel similar to when Stevie Wonder says "In a cafe or sometimes on a crowded street I've been near you, but you never notice me My Cherie Amour, won't you tell me how could you ignore That behind that little smile I wore How I wish that you were mine" Oh man...I cant get enough of this....ladies why do you have to play so hard to get?
man stevie wonder has some great lyrics
The line "distant as the Milky Way" is a wonderful yet over looked line. I sometime wonder about the meaning of this comparison. Is it that he has some type of relationship with her. Like in the actual milky way, we only leave on earth. But desire to explore the rest of the it.
just a beautiful verse.