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.
Sun through the curtains,
I gave you a sign,
The birds were all quiet,
You were so quiet,
Some hear a call,
Some are the messengers,
I thumb through the pictures,
And know them all.
They said, "Do you remember when you saw her last"
I said, "Her skin is cinnamon,
Her skin is cinnamon."
I have too many stories, keeping it serious,
Some are collectors, some keep it straight,
It was a hospital,
I was delirious,
I clung to the stretcher
And drew them a heart.
Two gondolas to carry us,
Grand Via was hilarious,
St. Paul was there to marry us,
We lied, "We're already married!"
'cause here's proof: we have suntans,
And I spoke up with my new hands,
Listen to my car,
What is it telling us?
Start... please start, please start.
Is it spring where you are?
I waited all winter
Chasing the lamp cords back to the wall,
It's a plausible scenario:
I clung the stretcher,
I drew them a heart.
I gave you a sign,
The birds were all quiet,
You were so quiet,
Some hear a call,
Some are the messengers,
I thumb through the pictures,
And know them all.
They said, "Do you remember when you saw her last"
I said, "Her skin is cinnamon,
Her skin is cinnamon."
I have too many stories, keeping it serious,
Some are collectors, some keep it straight,
It was a hospital,
I was delirious,
I clung to the stretcher
And drew them a heart.
Two gondolas to carry us,
Grand Via was hilarious,
St. Paul was there to marry us,
We lied, "We're already married!"
'cause here's proof: we have suntans,
And I spoke up with my new hands,
Listen to my car,
What is it telling us?
Start... please start, please start.
Is it spring where you are?
I waited all winter
Chasing the lamp cords back to the wall,
It's a plausible scenario:
I clung the stretcher,
I drew them a heart.
Lyrics submitted by sarahsavedlatin
Cinnamon Lyrics as written by John Roderick
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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John Roderick (the lead singer for The Long Winters) is touring solo with Amiee Mann and we saw him perform this the other night. He says that the song is about a couple that belongs to the Baader Meinhof gang in Germany in the 1980’s. The couple is separated in the course of performing some ill-intentioned acts. The man is injured and captured. The lyrics are told from the perspective of the man, while he’s being interrogated by the Polizei. John’s funny, and an excellent story teller. So, I give it a 50% chance that he just made that story up on stage to mess with us; but the lyrics fit and he seems like the type of guy that would write a song about German militants who’s love story has taken an unfortunate turn for the worst.
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i am addicted to this song!
This might be rediculous and far fetched, but I think he either murdered this girl because he lost his mind or he watched someone else murder her, and the song is all about him remembering everything they did together while he's being interrogated in some institution. "Do you remember when you saw her last?" Would be the police/psychiatrist and all he can respond is "Her skin is cinnamon" because he's lost it entirely.
that's a cute take on it. and it makes sense.
I really don't like the take on the song that everyone's given it so far, I HOPE its not about a murderer, the song is too colorful for that...its a realy irony if it is.
This is why I don't think so:
i have too many stories keeping it serious some are collectors keeping it straight it was a hospital i was delirious i clung to the stretcher i drew them a heart
...I always got the feeling its about a man who had amnestisia...maybe he had a car crash with his wife in the car and he survived but later had amnesia, so they are trying to find the missing wife after the accident.
Also, he drew them a heart, cause he was trying to remember , so the heart means he was in love and is trying to remember about her when he is getting off the amnesia episode
I am not buying that this song is about a murderer's obsession....ugh!
or maybe the relationship ended and he had been so in love with her that the break up drove him crazy. now he's in a mental hospital discussing these things with a psychiatrist.
I didn't think it was that he'd murdered the girl but that she'd gone missing and he's being asked by the police when he last saw her so they can try to find her and all he can say is that her skin is cinammon.
k, So I work at the GAP, and this song has been on the soundtrack for 2 months now. The first time I heard it I thought that he killed he was was being questioned about it. I've convinced everyone at the store that this is what the song means...St. Paul was there to marry them (b/c she is dead). I think he was obsessed with her killed her. Is it sping where she is, the after life is often thought of as spring like.
I've always interpreted the song as if he murdered her as well, I'm thinking out of some crazed obsession..
I really like the St. Paul analysis. That helps the rest of the murder idea hold a little more water.
I think this is about murder because he says "listen to my car what's it telling us? start... please start... please start" meaning he's trying to get away from the scene quick. also the fact that he's saying 'her skin is cinnamon, her skin is cinnamon' means that her skin is blood stained.
more or less this song is him not believeing that he just murderd someone.