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 sittin' here in the boring room
It's just another rainy Sunday afternoon
I'm wasting my time
I got nothin' to do
I'm hangin' around
I'm waitin' for you
But nothing ever happens and I wonder
I'm drivin' around in my car
I'm drivin' too fast
I'm drivin' too far
I'd like to change my point of view
I feel so lonely
I'm waitin' for you
But nothing ever happens and I wonder
I wonder how
I wonder why
Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
And all that I can see is just a yellow lemon tree
I'm turnin' my head up and down
I'm turnin', turnin', turnin', turnin', turnin' around
And all that I can see is just another lemon tree
Sing!
Dap-dadada-dadpm-didap-da
Dadada-dadpm-didap-da
Dap-didili-da
I'm sittin' here
I miss the power
I'd like to go out takin' a shower
But there's a heavy cloud inside my head
I feel so tired
Put myself into bed
Well, nothing ever happens and I wonder
Isolation is not good for me
Isolation, I don't want to sit on the lemon tree
I'm steppin' around in the desert of joy
Baby, anyhow I'll get another toy
And everything will happen and you wonder
I wonder how
I wonder why
Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
And all that I can see is just another lemon tree
I'm turnin' my head up and down
I'm turnin', turnin', turnin', turnin', turnin' around
And all that I can see is just a yellow lemon tree
And I wonder, wonder
I wonder how
I wonder why
Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
And all that I can see
And all that I can see
And all that I can see
Is just a yellow lemon tree
It's just another rainy Sunday afternoon
I'm wasting my time
I got nothin' to do
I'm hangin' around
I'm waitin' for you
But nothing ever happens and I wonder
I'm drivin' around in my car
I'm drivin' too fast
I'm drivin' too far
I'd like to change my point of view
I feel so lonely
I'm waitin' for you
But nothing ever happens and I wonder
I wonder how
I wonder why
Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
And all that I can see is just a yellow lemon tree
I'm turnin' my head up and down
I'm turnin', turnin', turnin', turnin', turnin' around
And all that I can see is just another lemon tree
Sing!
Dap-dadada-dadpm-didap-da
Dadada-dadpm-didap-da
Dap-didili-da
I'm sittin' here
I miss the power
I'd like to go out takin' a shower
But there's a heavy cloud inside my head
I feel so tired
Put myself into bed
Well, nothing ever happens and I wonder
Isolation is not good for me
Isolation, I don't want to sit on the lemon tree
I'm steppin' around in the desert of joy
Baby, anyhow I'll get another toy
And everything will happen and you wonder
I wonder how
I wonder why
Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
And all that I can see is just another lemon tree
I'm turnin' my head up and down
I'm turnin', turnin', turnin', turnin', turnin' around
And all that I can see is just a yellow lemon tree
And I wonder, wonder
I wonder how
I wonder why
Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
And all that I can see
And all that I can see
And all that I can see
Is just a yellow lemon tree
Lyrics submitted by kevlar_soul, edited by jobse
Lemon Tree Lyrics as written by Volker Hinkel Peter Freudenthaler
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's all about depression.
It's about being alone, and bored, waiting for something to happen, or a person to come along to take you out of it.
But the person never comes and something never happens.
I so agree.
@hejira84 I've been thinking that song a lot and agree, it's like telling a story about my depression.<br /> And I link it to 'when life gives you lemons, make a lemonade' but person so depressed he/she can't see tree that way. Like can't see the way out of depression.<br /> <br /> "I miss the power<br /> I'd like to go out taking a shower<br /> But there's a heavy cloud inside my head<br /> I feel so tired<br /> Put myself into bed"<br /> I've been spending so many days 'missing the power' to do something. Like simply take a shower and go out.
@hejira84 <br /> It definitely is. I'm pretty sure anyone who's been through it will recognize the patterns.<br /> It's textbook depression - the boredom, the loneliness, and the total lack of motivation to change it. The difficulty of dragging yourself out of bed and the feeling or perpetual fatigue. Apathy and bitterness. And just wishing that somehow, someone, would magically drag you out of it.
@hejira84 Couldn't agree more
Everyone says life is so great, "look at the blue blue sky", but life seems to just constantly give you Lemons (you know, "When life gives you Lemons", ETC). He tries to "change his point of view", "turns his head up and down" and "turns around" but, especially when you're depressed, it can be extremely difficult to see past all the "Lemon Trees".
I think the "waiting for you" bit, is about him waiting for someone to help him out of this rut. Help him get away from this "lonely", "isolated" boredom that never seems to end. Because again, when you're depressed, nothing interests you, there's no reason to do anything. Just sit "down here in the boring room", "wasting time" and waiting for something to change, "But nothing ever happens".
I love this song...
This kind of reminds me of 'Pumped Up Kicks' by Foster the People, because the lyrics are depressing but it's such a catchy tune. This song is literal, because his girlfriend died in a car accident. She had crashed into a lemon tree. He sits on the porch, maybe not absorbing what has happened. The days are rainy without her. He wonders how his outlook could change so much from one event. He'd like to change the way he views things, but he's so lonely and feels that nobody's trying to help him out of his rut. He's in a desert of joy. No joy to be found anywhere. She had told him about the blue blue sky, but without her, he just can't see it and wonders if he ever will again. He doesn't want to sit on a lemon tree. Doesn't want to be stuck like this forever. Maybe he'll get another toy: something to play with, something to distract him. And everything will happen - he will start living his life again. Beautiful and dark lyrics with an upbeat melody. Love this song.
i think this is about someone who is waiting for someone he thinks he really loves but really he has exaggerated this person in his head so that they sound better than they actually are(yesterday you told me bout the blue blue sky). Because he is so wrapped up in waiting for this person he doesnt notice how isolated he has become. Thats why all he can see is just a yellow lemon tree.
Pixie, you're - according to my interpretation & sadly - spot on
This song is misleading due to the upbeat tune, but it is definitely about depression. Clinical depression is a misunderstood condition and those who do not suffer from it often encourage the depressed person to "think positive," (ie: look at the blue sky). This is impossible for him to do as all he can see is the sour side of life - the lemon tree.
The fourth set of lyrics is the real clencher - "There's a heavy cloud inside my head, I feel so tired, put myself into bed." That is what depressed people do!
Also - the desert of joy? A place completely devoid of happiness.
I think, this song is about depression and someone is trying to help him find happiness, but he can't ever see anything but the lemon tree, which represents everything negative. He wonders why he can't see the blue sky (the good things) He doesn't want to see the bad things, but he feels like he's in that desert, that's barren, of joy and love. He's waiting for life to start happening again. Just my personal thoughts,
Notice the "told me about the blue blue sky" (to promise something optimistically which propably will not happen) and getting a lemon tree (sour fruits) contrast.
The whole theme seems to be unrequited love and being totally alone without the person.
At the point "I'll get another toy" it seems like there should be a turning point (i can live without you, can you live without me, now you're sitting on the lemon tree), but this does not happen, but the YOU told me about the blue sky, but I only see a lemon tree motive repeats itself.
@deralex I don't think it is unrequited love, I think it is about general despair, hopelessness and depression. When he sings to 'you' it is possibly a friend or the 'you' could even be hope personified,
only four posts?? on this genious sonG!!!! it's a song i've grown up with and heard all my life, but i've never gotten sick of it.. it's a definite classic!=)
I actually think he's in a depression and wants to be happy... but he can't be.
And I agree to what boo! said, it's the same here.
i'm guessing the blue blue sky is love itself which you cannot see, and the lemon tree represents lust