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.
Did you get the pictures that I left in your mailbox yesterday
I really wish I�d sent them much earlier when you weren�t so far away
I spoke to my advisors but I can�t decide which class to take
And since you left you left for college what can I teach you now babe
Or can they teach us babe
When we were young I saw you frolicking about the public square
Blowing kisses to the children like some wandering saint
Or a clown you have found today
And when I find the chance to tell you
With my strength I wish you well
With a voice so filled with longing for a purpose or a home
I�d say
This is every letter I never wrote
It�s every dream I never told
Every selfish aspiration
Yesterday morning
After all is said and done
I give the world to you
To see you through
Heavy cardboard storage box was thrown in your backseat
You were driving
For several years of notebook lines must have slipped off the corner of the bed where we slept
And they burst over the landscape like feathers from a cave
Is this the heart I�ve grown to love or just a crinkled page
Such a fleeting age
And here I found the confidence and gall to chase our lofty plans
To claim a stolen seashore will I drift inside a bottle until it lands
I have nothing to give you so I�m borrowing your coat
This is every letter I never wrote
Every tear I meant to cry
Every long slow goodbye
And yesterday morning after all is said and done
I give my love to you
To see you another time cause I�m back on track
Tomorrows facing you
What can I do?
What can I do?
I really wish I�d sent them much earlier when you weren�t so far away
I spoke to my advisors but I can�t decide which class to take
And since you left you left for college what can I teach you now babe
Or can they teach us babe
When we were young I saw you frolicking about the public square
Blowing kisses to the children like some wandering saint
Or a clown you have found today
And when I find the chance to tell you
With my strength I wish you well
With a voice so filled with longing for a purpose or a home
I�d say
This is every letter I never wrote
It�s every dream I never told
Every selfish aspiration
Yesterday morning
After all is said and done
I give the world to you
To see you through
Heavy cardboard storage box was thrown in your backseat
You were driving
For several years of notebook lines must have slipped off the corner of the bed where we slept
And they burst over the landscape like feathers from a cave
Is this the heart I�ve grown to love or just a crinkled page
Such a fleeting age
And here I found the confidence and gall to chase our lofty plans
To claim a stolen seashore will I drift inside a bottle until it lands
I have nothing to give you so I�m borrowing your coat
This is every letter I never wrote
Every tear I meant to cry
Every long slow goodbye
And yesterday morning after all is said and done
I give my love to you
To see you another time cause I�m back on track
Tomorrows facing you
What can I do?
What can I do?
Lyrics submitted by bostonmcd
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Great version of a great song,
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A beautiful song with a beginning that captures ones imagination; Did you get the pictures that I left in your mailbox yesterday? These lyrics can only be written in a time before social media, this way of cumunication goes away with the true meaning of making contact with someone you wish to touch. Joe Knapp captured this true meaning and like many other songs; Sylvia’s Mother and ELO’s Telephone Line would not exist or be written today as its too easy to send a picture, or Send a text.